Former UPEI athletics director dies

Former UPEI Director of Athletics Barb Mullaly, 70, passed away Saturday in Charlottetown after a brief illness.

Her four-decade career as a classroom instructor, coach, and nationally decorated athletic administrator began in 1967 at Prince of Wales College. When UPEI was formed in 1969, she moved on to begin a long career at the University, initially as the first women's basketball and field hockey coach, eventually serving 13 years as Director of Athletics, and then retiring as the first Director of Wellness and Fair Treatment Advocate in 2006.

Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, UPEI’s President and Vice-Chancellor said, “The entire University community is saddened by the passing of UPEI Founder Barb Mullaly. I remember meeting her shortly after arriving at UPEI and it was easy to see her passion for the University and its people. That dedication extended to many other community organizations as well.”

“And while respected among her peers in sport, she was equally admired by her UPEI family. Our University has lost a great friend who continued to support UPEI in retirement,” added Abd-El-Aziz.  “On behalf of UPEI faculty, staff, students, alumni, and retirees, I pass on my most sincere sympathies to Mary Lou, and her family, friends, and colleagues across the country.”

Mullaly served as President of Atlantic University Sport (AUS), and chaired numerous committees and sports. Upon retirement, she was awarded an honorary lifetime membership in the AUS.

She was the long-time chair of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) finance committee and a member of the CIS executive committee. She was awarded the CIS Austin-Matthews Award in 2007 for outstanding service to university sport in Canada over her career.

Mullaly was named a Founder of UPEI in 2010.

She was also the 2013 winner of the Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty’s Mentor Award which salutes a Prince Edward Islander for mentorship and leadership on the local, regional, and national level.

At the time of her death, Mullaly was president of Seniors College PEI, past-president of Recreation PEI, secretary of the UPEI Retirees’ Association, and a member of the Go PEI advisory committee.

Mullaly is survived by her partner Mary Lou Turner, brothers Sean (Susan) of Halifax and Gregory (Anita) of North Vancouver, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later this week. Flags at UPEI will be lowered to half mast in Mullaly’s memory.