BULLS NEWS

Nan Harvey

BUFFALO, NY - Nan Harvey, UB Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator, who had loyally served the Bulls for almost 30 years - first as a student, then as a coach and finally as an administrator - passed away Tuesday, Sept. 2 after battling cancer with great courage for over three years.

Harvey, 46, had continued to play an integral role in shaping UB's athletics future despite undergoing regular chemotherapy treatments. Her courage served as an inspiration to her fellow coaches, staff and UB student-athletes.

"Nan battled ovarian cancer bravely for over three years and throughout it all, showed us a level of perseverance that was remarkable," said Interim Director of Athletics Bill Maher, who had worked with Harvey since 1998. "Never one to complain, Nan simply put her efforts into making an impact in the lives of others through her work and friendship. For that, we have all benefited."

Friends will be received at the Amigone Funeral Home, 569 Cleveland Drive in Cheektowaga, NY on Wednesday (Sept. 3) from 7-9 pm and Thursday (Sept. 4) and Friday (Sept. 5) from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm. Funeral services will take place on Saturday (Sept. 6) at 9:15 am at the funeral home and, as well, at Infant of Prague Church (921 Cleveland Drive) at 10 am. Flowers are gratefully declined. If desired, contributions can be made to UB Athletics, UB Women's Athletics or to the UB Athletic Scholarship Fund.

Harvey was appointed to the position of senior woman administrator in August of 1996 where she was responsible for the day-to-day management of UB's intercollegiate athletic teams and represented the University on all issues regarding women's athletics. Harvey's commitment and loyalty to the University at Buffalo was shown earlier this year when she made a bequest to the UB athletics department for a minimum of $200,000. In recognition of her monetary gift, the UB Softball Field was officially renamed Nan Harvey Field in a special dedication ceremony on May 3, 2003.

Harvey's affiliation with the University at Buffalo dates back to 1974 when she first put on a Blue and White uniform as a member of UB's volleyball team. Harvey played volleyball at UB as a freshman and a sophomore, and she was also a member of the women's basketball team for three seasons, captaining the 1976-77 squad to a 7-9 record.

After graduating cum laude from UB with a degree in physical education in 1978, Harvey returned to her alma mater in 1983 to head up its softball program. She recorded 38 wins over the next three years as head coach, and she earned 1985 SUNYAC Coach of the Year honors after guiding UB to its best record ever (19-9), a national ranking of 12th in the country and an appearance in the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament.

Harvey also coached UB's women's basketball team for five seasons from 1985-90, including its first two competing at the Division II level. She guided UB to winning records and postseason berths in each of those two seasons, and she led her team to a first-place finish in the SUNYAC West Division in 1986-87. Harvey served as an assistant coach for two years before taking over the head coaching reins.

In addition to her duties at UB, Harvey was also active in the Western New York softball scene both as a player and as an umpire. In 1991, she was inducted into the WNY Softball Hall of Fame as a player and in 1996, she was named the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Metro Buffalo Umpire of the Year. Harvey was also the recipient of one of the most prestigious honors that can be bestowed upon an ASA umpire when she was inducted into the National Indicator Fraternity of the Amateur Softball Hall of Fame in 1996. Her name appears on a plaque in the National Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, OK. Harvey umpired in various national tournaments, including the 1992 Men's Major Industrial Slow Pitch in Albany, GA, the 1995 Women's Major Slow Pitch in Salem, OR, the 1996 Women's Major Slow Pitch in Bloomington, MN, the 1995 and 1997 NCAA Division III National Championships in Eau Claire, WI and the 1996 NCAA Division III National Championship in Salem, VA. She received her International Softball Federation Umpire Certification for slow pitch competition in 1996, making her eligible to officiate international slow pitch contests as a representative of the United States.

Most recently, Harvey was inducted into the Metro Buffalo ASA Hall of Fame in March of 2003. She had also been elected to serve a four-year term on the NCAA Division I softball committee this past year.

During her career, Harvey also served as UB's Strength and Conditioning Coach, as the Aquatics Coordinator for the Department of Recreation and Intramurals, as the Race Director for the Linda Yalem Memorial 5K Run and as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Athletics at UB. She earned her master's degree in exercise science in 1987 and was a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the Amateur Softball Association.