Memory of ‘Team Mom’ Inspires New Support for RIT Women’s Hockey

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Dylan Heuer

The Ruth W. Corcoran Women’s Hockey Endowment Fund will help support recruiting initiatives, equipment purchases, and player and team recognition programs.

Some 30 years ago, members of the Rochester Institute of Technology’s women’s hockey program looked to Ruth Corcoran fondly as their “team mom.” In commemoration of her legacy among former players, an endowment has been created to enhance the program’s future.

The Ruth W. Corcoran Women’s Hockey Endowed Fund has been established in her memory to support the continued success of the RIT Tigers. The fund is made possible by a $50,000 contribution from RIT alumni Lori Farr-Rusin, former RIT women’s hockey player, and David Rusin, the team’s former assistant head coach.

Ruth Corcoran, mother of Farr-Rusin’s teammate Trish Corcoran, regularly attended home and away hockey games. In addition to supporting the team from the stands, players recall Corcoran’s dedication to addressing their needs both on and off the ice.

“Mrs. Corcoran was a great supporter for girls and women’s athletics,” recalls Farr-Rusin, a 1983 professional photography graduate. “She supported, encouraged and cheered on our team, but most importantly she became a role model for all the women on the RIT hockey team by always standing up for fairness and equality in women’s athletics.”

Ruth Corcoran, who passed away last year, taught physical education in upstate New York, at which time she developed a love for coaching and a commitment to promoting women’s equality in athletics. As a volunteer, she developed backyard swim programs in Webster and Ontario, N.Y., wrote the Learn to Swim manual for the American Red Cross and was inducted into the American Red Cross Hall of Fame in honor of 30 years of service to the agency. She also served on the boards of more than a dozen not-for-profit agencies.

Annual proceeds from the Ruth W. Corcoran Women’s Hockey Endowed Fund at RIT may be used to support recruiting initiatives, equipment purchases, player and team recognition programs and other related activities.

For more information about supporting the endowment, contact Tish Ciaccio, RIT Office of Development, at 585-475-6465 or eccdar@rit.edu.