Anne M. Pittman, whose extraordinary life as a dancer, teacher, coach, author, administrator, mentor, friend and competitor, spanned over seven decades, passed away November 25, 2008. She was born in October, 1918 in Camp Hill, Alabama. She had just spent 10 days in Hilton Head playing golf, and had also just celebrated her 90th birthday with friends at Arizona State.
Devoted to tennis since she was 'net high,' Dr. Anne Pittman championed intercollegiate womens competition as a player, coach, educator, and national leader. In recognition of Pittman's work the International Tennis Hall of Fame honored her with its Special Educational Merit Award.
Pittman's path breaking work began in her undergraduate days at the University of Texas at Austin: she and her coach successfully sued to play intercollegiate mixed doubles. After receiving a B.S. degree in 1940 and an M.A. in 1945 Pittman went on to a distinguished teaching and coaching career. She earned an Ed.D. from Stanford University in 1972.
In 1954 when Pittman began her 30-year tenure as coach at Arizona State University, intercollegiate competition for her team was virtually nonexistent. Undaunted, she tirelessly created, promoted and directed tournament play and led ASU to national championships in 1971, 1972 and 1974. In 1973 she coached the U.S. Womens Tennis Team at the World University Games in Moscow.
An inspiration for colleagues as well as students, Pittman founded the Womens Collegiate Tennis Coaches Association in 1973. Among her many awards she was named NCAA Division I Womens Coach of the Year in 1984 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches Association. At her retirement from ASU in 1986 as professor emeritus, Pittman had compiled a 446-114 lifetime coaching record.
Anne Pittman is survived by her niece Cornelia P. Skelly (Tony), great niece Emily Skelly and great nephew Case Skelly, from Houston, TX , and nephew Dennis H. Pittman, Jr. (Audrey) from Laurel, MS. She will always be remembered fondly by her devoted family, and legions of students, colleagues and friends. A memorial service will be held early in 2009.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Sun Angel Foundation, attn: Anne Pittman Tennis Scholarship, c/o Stephen Ponder, P.O. Box 872205, Tempe, AZ 85287-2205, or to: Folklore Village, 3210 County BB, Dodgeville, WI 53533.
Devoted to tennis since she was 'net high,' Dr. Anne Pittman championed intercollegiate womens competition as a player, coach, educator, and national leader. In recognition of Pittman's work the International Tennis Hall of Fame honored her with its Special Educational Merit Award.
Pittman's path breaking work began in her undergraduate days at the University of Texas at Austin: she and her coach successfully sued to play intercollegiate mixed doubles. After receiving a B.S. degree in 1940 and an M.A. in 1945 Pittman went on to a distinguished teaching and coaching career. She earned an Ed.D. from Stanford University in 1972.
In 1954 when Pittman began her 30-year tenure as coach at Arizona State University, intercollegiate competition for her team was virtually nonexistent. Undaunted, she tirelessly created, promoted and directed tournament play and led ASU to national championships in 1971, 1972 and 1974. In 1973 she coached the U.S. Womens Tennis Team at the World University Games in Moscow.
An inspiration for colleagues as well as students, Pittman founded the Womens Collegiate Tennis Coaches Association in 1973. Among her many awards she was named NCAA Division I Womens Coach of the Year in 1984 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches Association. At her retirement from ASU in 1986 as professor emeritus, Pittman had compiled a 446-114 lifetime coaching record.
Anne Pittman is survived by her niece Cornelia P. Skelly (Tony), great niece Emily Skelly and great nephew Case Skelly, from Houston, TX , and nephew Dennis H. Pittman, Jr. (Audrey) from Laurel, MS. She will always be remembered fondly by her devoted family, and legions of students, colleagues and friends. A memorial service will be held early in 2009.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Sun Angel Foundation, attn: Anne Pittman Tennis Scholarship, c/o Stephen Ponder, P.O. Box 872205, Tempe, AZ 85287-2205, or to: Folklore Village, 3210 County BB, Dodgeville, WI 53533.
Anne M. Pittman, whose extraordinary life as a dancer, teacher, coach, author, administrator, mentor, friend and competitor, spanned over seven decades, passed away November 25, 2008. She was born in October, 1918 in Camp Hill, Alabama. She had just spent 10 days in Hilton Head playing golf, and had also just celebrated her 90th birthday with friends at Arizona State.
Devoted to tennis since she was 'net high,' Dr. Anne Pittman championed intercollegiate womens competition as a player, coach, educator, and national leader. In recognition of Pittman's work the International Tennis Hall of Fame honored her with its Special Educational Merit Award.
Pittman's path breaking work began in her undergraduate days at the University of Texas at Austin: she and her coach successfully sued to play intercollegiate mixed doubles. After receiving a B.S. degree in 1940 and an M.A. in 1945 Pittman went on to a distinguished teaching and coaching career. She earned an Ed.D. from Stanford University in 1972.
In 1954 when Pittman began her 30-year tenure as coach at Arizona State University, intercollegiate competition for her team was virtually nonexistent. Undaunted, she tirelessly created, promoted and directed tournament play and led ASU to national championships in 1971, 1972 and 1974. In 1973 she coached the U.S. Womens Tennis Team at the World University Games in Moscow.
An inspiration for colleagues as well as students, Pittman founded the Womens Collegiate Tennis Coaches Association in 1973. Among her many awards she was named NCAA Division I Womens Coach of the Year in 1984 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches Association. At her retirement from ASU in 1986 as professor emeritus, Pittman had compiled a 446-114 lifetime coaching record.
Anne Pittman is survived by her niece Cornelia P. Skelly (Tony), great niece Emily Skelly and great nephew Case Skelly, from Houston, TX , and nephew Dennis H. Pittman, Jr. (Audrey) from Laurel, MS. She will always be remembered fondly by her devoted family, and legions of students, colleagues and friends. A memorial service will be held early in 2009.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Sun Angel Foundation, attn: Anne Pittman Tennis Scholarship, c/o Stephen Ponder, P.O. Box 872205, Tempe, AZ 85287-2205, or to: Folklore Village, 3210 County BB, Dodgeville, WI 53533.
Devoted to tennis since she was 'net high,' Dr. Anne Pittman championed intercollegiate womens competition as a player, coach, educator, and national leader. In recognition of Pittman's work the International Tennis Hall of Fame honored her with its Special Educational Merit Award.
Pittman's path breaking work began in her undergraduate days at the University of Texas at Austin: she and her coach successfully sued to play intercollegiate mixed doubles. After receiving a B.S. degree in 1940 and an M.A. in 1945 Pittman went on to a distinguished teaching and coaching career. She earned an Ed.D. from Stanford University in 1972.
In 1954 when Pittman began her 30-year tenure as coach at Arizona State University, intercollegiate competition for her team was virtually nonexistent. Undaunted, she tirelessly created, promoted and directed tournament play and led ASU to national championships in 1971, 1972 and 1974. In 1973 she coached the U.S. Womens Tennis Team at the World University Games in Moscow.
An inspiration for colleagues as well as students, Pittman founded the Womens Collegiate Tennis Coaches Association in 1973. Among her many awards she was named NCAA Division I Womens Coach of the Year in 1984 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches Association. At her retirement from ASU in 1986 as professor emeritus, Pittman had compiled a 446-114 lifetime coaching record.
Anne Pittman is survived by her niece Cornelia P. Skelly (Tony), great niece Emily Skelly and great nephew Case Skelly, from Houston, TX , and nephew Dennis H. Pittman, Jr. (Audrey) from Laurel, MS. She will always be remembered fondly by her devoted family, and legions of students, colleagues and friends. A memorial service will be held early in 2009.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Sun Angel Foundation, attn: Anne Pittman Tennis Scholarship, c/o Stephen Ponder, P.O. Box 872205, Tempe, AZ 85287-2205, or to: Folklore Village, 3210 County BB, Dodgeville, WI 53533.
