Pat Lamb, age 83, died on January 28th after a long battle with cancer. Pat came to Carleton in 1962 as a physical education instructor and retired in 1994 as Professor Emerita of Physical Education, Athletics, and Recreation. As Carleton’s first director of women’s athletics (1970-1985), Pat was a pioneering champion for women’s physical education and an influential leader in the early development of increased sports opportunities for women, not only at Carleton, but also at the state, regional, and national levels.
She supervised the development of 12 varsity athletic programs, coaching many of them herself, especially tennis. Because of her advocacy, and that of her life partner, Ele Hansen, Carleton became an early model for providing wide-ranging physical education for women. But that advocacy wasn’t always a smooth path, and occasionally required tactics like Pat threatening to begin a hunger strike on the tennis courts in the basement of Cowling.
Pat’s influence on the lives of all those around her was profound. She was a deeply caring person, a gifted teacher, and an inspiring role model for generations of students and colleagues. Coaching was to her a vehicle to teach values and help young women grow into themselves. She was sought out by many as a counselor, mentor, and friend.
A celebration of Pat’s life will be held at the Carleton Chapel during Reunion on Friday, June 15th at 10am.
Gifts in Pat’s memory may be sent to the Pat Lamb Endowed Tennis Fund through the Development Office at Carleton.
Two years ago, Pat wrote that her obituary should be simple. “Perhaps you’ll be able to write something like this: ‘She lived fully, she tried hard, she loved with all her heart, and she died gracefully having placed herself totally in the hands of God.’”
Comments
Pat Lamb was a pioneer in every sense of the word, she commanded respect and was a very strong woman. Her contributions to womens athletics were profound.
Pat was an absolute treasure. She instilled courage and love for physical activity in those of us who were not naturally gifted in that way. She exuded love. I am so grateful for having known her as my teacher and my colleague!
Pat was a mentor and inspiration to me. Without Pat's leadership and influence, I would not have had the opportunity to play tennis in college, the opportunity to coach, nor the career in advocating for girls and women in sport that I have today. Pat your legacy will continue to live on. Thank you for all you did and for the strong woman you were. RIP
Pat Lamb was a shining light to all of us when we were students at Carleton. She will be missed.
As first my mentor and later my friend, Pat Lamb guided and inspired me, as well as many other women and men. Our years at Carleton are growing years, and she knew that. She provided direction and guidance, challenged and gave us opportunities that would have been hard to find anywhere else in the 1960's and 1970's. She encouraged me to pursue my passion in gymnastics, and believed in me and Ann as her replacement coaches when she went on sabbatical. But, even beyond our college years, as a friend and colleague, Pat remained an inspiration. I went on to study sports and during my career, her principles of equality, caring and advocacy of women - all women, not just the good athletes - have continued to guide me. Her influence on me was profound and I would like to think that I made her proud. I will miss her - she truly made a difference.
Pat Lamb and Ele Hansen were two of my most favorite people in the whole world. In the late 1980's they traveled during winter term, and allowed me to stay in their beautiful home in the woods outside of Northfield in exchange for me cutting some firewood. They said they just wanted to have more firewood at the end of the winter than they did in the fall. I think they secretly knew I needed a place to stay, and couldn't afford the room and board on campus. They cut me a deal. With their kindness and generosity, they put a roof over my head when I needed it. I proposed to my wife in their home. Pat and Ele sent us a very kind wedding gift in honor of our marriage, and it remains one of our most treasured wedding gifts 25 years later. They gave me, my family, and generations of Carleton students shelter from the storm. The world is a more beautiful place for them. We will miss them tremendously.
I competed against Pat’s team when I played for Winona State University. I coached against her when I was at St. Olaf College. I kept in touch with her throughout my career in education and coaching. No matter what you were doing in life you could learn from this great woman. I honored her by trying to take some of those gifts and apply them to my own philosophy! Thank you for be there for so many of us!! You truly made a difference!! Much love and respect. May you Rest In Peace.
Pat was a huge mentor to me as a coach and administrator, even though I came to Carleton after her retirement. I loved hearing her tell the stories of how she and Ele started women's varsity and club sports here at Carleton, and Pat made sure we passed on that history to our current student-athletes. Pat also loved hearing how our current women student-athletes were doing at Carleton, both on and off the court. I will miss her greatly but know that her passion and love for helping female coaches and student-athletes greatly influenced the progress we have made in our professions. Even though she retired over 20 years ago, she still influenced our current female student-athletes and coaches by stopping by practices, cheering us on in the bleachers at games, and taking our female senior athlete award-winners out to lunch every year so that she could get to know them and hear about their experience at Carleton. She told me the story of how the popularity and equality of women's sports at Carleton caused them to outgrow the space at Cowling Gym. Pat went into the President's office and said that it wasn't right that she had to keep sending contracts out to other colleges for their women's games with the words "Location: Carleton Men's Gym" on the contract. She asked why they had to keep calling it "Carleton Men's Gym". The President asked her what she wanted to call it. She said, "Well, it's on the west side of campus, so how about we just call it West Gym". I think of Pat every time I send out a contract for a home game for my women's volleyball team and write, "Location: West Gym".
I will forever be grateful to Pat for jump-starting my professional career. She hired me as the (last) women's (only) swimming coach at Carleton in 1983. I spent the next 24 years coaching young men and women swimmers, then moving into college athletic administration where I am today. She was a bright shining example of how to be a gracious leader who got things done. Thank you, Pat!
Pat was such a wonderful roll model and friend to so many. She started the Carleton summer workshop for P.E. Teachers, which was introduction to Pat, Ele and so many women thruout the state. I never knew Pat without a smile. My "get-away" spot after a hectic week was the Carleton tennis courts with. Her values and way of life will be with many of us forever. She was a mentor and friend. Peace to you my dear friend.
Pat's smile will always be remembered. A strong leader for Carleton tennis teams, but always showing visiting MIAC teams kindness and leaving one with a pleasing impression. Pat's honorable conduct, strong will and good heart will be missed.
I met Pat only one or two times at Carleton, but remember clearly her smile and warm eyes. While I did not know Pat beyond short encounters, as I think about her today, I think about the strength, will, and encouragement of the many teammates, coaches, and friends that I have been so lucky to have been surrounded by at Carleton. I am honored to have crossed paths with Pat—however, briefly—and am profoundly appreciative of all that she and Ele fought to change.
Pat was a master teacher. As a young colleague with a sad case of flu at Christmas break I faced a teaching assignment of ice-skating to get me out of the dark cave of Cowling pool where I had spent my first Carleton winter. In my kitchen, gifted teacher that she was, Pat taught me the basics of beginning ice-skating. That led to my gliding around the Bald Spot in brilliant January sunshine with ambitious Carleton students, a glorious reprieve from the pool. She shared that skill with generations of students and teachers.
I was a terrible athlete, but Pat still gave me attention and support. She fought for equal treatment of women in sports at Carleton. She is someone I will never forget.
Pat was a wonderful teacher. In my freshman year, I "had" to sign up for golf because I was the last freshman to register and all of the other PE classes were closed. I was lucky enough to get Pat Lamb as my teacher and it didn't take long for me to completely change my opinion about golf. She not only taught the mechanics of the sport but also helped us to see that it could be a life-long excuse to get outside and get our minds off of academics or work. Pat was wonderful at helping to integrate sport as a normal and enjoyable part of life. I feel luck that she was part of my college education.
Pat Lamb was my mentor, my coach and my friend when I was at Caleton and after. She was also one of the most inspiring women I had ever met, and with her life partner, Ele Hanson, epitomized my understanding of what strong women could do when given support and a community that cared. She and Ele coached me in swimming and diving, synchronized swimming, gymnastics, and later supported the folk dance groups that I was active in my junior and senior years. I was lucky enough to be able to visit with them several times in Tucson, Arizona, where they retired, and will always remeber both of them with fondness and love. Peace to you both, united again at last.
In reading all of your comments, I agree with everything you all say! She was one of the MOST KIND and generous and thoughtful people any of us will ever know. She is the MODEL of what all human beings could and should be if they/we gave our very best. She knew to value what is important in life and to disregard and pay no attention to the bad sides of humanity, because she didn't know any of that within herself. She is -was an extraordinary human being who we should all model ourselves after. She gave me hope whenever I felt lost. I dearly loved her and want to keep her close to my heart always.
Pat was such a fixture in Carleton athletics that, by the time I first encountered her early in my Sophomore year, it seemed entirely natural that she "own the place". Having grown up as a boy in a liberal household, and not having spent any time yet toiling in the work force myself, I don't think I appreciated just how remarkable that was in 1988. She made Carleton athletics richer for women and for men, and she did it while moving the world forward to a better place.
Is this the woman who piled 5 of us in her car - the Carleton "Basket Ball Team" to "play" I should say get beat up by Mankato State. It's nice to think of it as a beginning for women's teams at CC.
Pat Lamb was my tennis coach during my Carleton years in the early 1970s. Cheerful, sunny, full of life and fun, while she encouraged us to do our best, what I think she emphasized ever more was teamwork and our support of one another.
As a young woman at Carleton, Pat was my role model as to what a female human being should be: wise, kind, and giving. She guided me through a major emotional crisis in my sophomore year and taught me a valuable life lesson: you can love someone and still disagree with the decisions they make. Pat Lamb and Prof. Obaid changed the entire trajectory of my life. I think of them often and give thanks they were put in my life. Pat, you will be so missed! I just hope you are now reunited with Ele. Love you!
I attended Carleton in 1967-1971 –- between the opening of Cowling Rec Center and the passage of Title IX. Those were exciting times for women’s athletics! Pat taught me how to play tennis and compete the Carleton way: hard, smart, and fair. More importantly, she taught me enduring life lessons. In my junior year, Pat sent me a poignant note about believing in myself and sharing all of my gifts. I still have the note. In direct and subtle ways, Pat encouraged each of us to lead a full, authentic life, with integrity, enthusiasm, humility, and generosity. Both Pat and Ele were remarkable coaches, in the best, biggest sense of the word.
We have lost a true giant in the field of education and sport. Through her efforts, equity for all has become the norm. Everything Pat did was to improve the lives of those she came in contact with. When a little “Pat on the back” was necessary she would deliver, and of course when deserved, you would get a pat on the back. She was a mentor, colleague, friend and an inspiration. To endure what she had and still be a strong leader was amazing, driving each of us to be better. I will miss her physical presence but her spirit will be forever in my soul.
Pat served The College, Carleton students, and evolving women's athletics very, very well.
She represented and led many factions with strength, grace, endurance, and good humor.
We were fortunate to have her at Carleton and know this excellent person.
I am honored to have known Pat and many of the women who coached women's sports at Carleton. They were dedicated "pioneers" in their field who provided invaluable support and compassion for those who were among the first to benefit from Title IX in the 1970s. Thank you!!
Just - well - thanks, Pat.
Pat Lamb was one of my top most influential teachers and role models at Carleton during the late 1960s. I signed up for her beginning gymnastics classes during at least four quarters. Although a young woman cannot expect to achieve any advanced proficiency in gymnastics when starting it for the first time in college, Pat taught us an elevated sense of body image and an increased respect for the sport. We even got to view some movie reels of women's gymnastics performed in the 1968 Olympics, back when it was a relatively new sport on the scene. Some other Carleton women students who paved the way for our class and demonstrated the skills they already had were Ellen Smith, Madelene Klages, Joan Ryujin, and Rennie Seidel. When I came back to Carleton for a class reunion in the 90's, I called Pat at home and had a great conversation with her. She told me that the Carleton gym department did not have any gymnastics programs anymore, due to the exorbitantly high costs that accident insurance had gotten up to. That was sad, but I just felt fortunate to have the experience with her classes during the years that I did. Pat had an eternal quality that went beyond athletics, and she will live on in the hearts and minds of many who were fortunate to know her.