Anne M. Volp, field-hockey legend

ANNE McCONAGHIE Volp, considered one of the nation's best field-hockey players in the '40s and '50s, died Saturday after a long battle with dementia. She was 88.

Anne had made the All-American field- hockey team as a left inner 12 times after she began her playing career at Temple in 1939.

She would have added to her record except that no teams were picked during World War II and she took time off to have children.

She played until 1957.

An all-around athlete, Anne was undefeated in intercollegiate diving at Temple, and played and coached basketball. In addition, she played tennis and softball in high school.

She was a member of the All-College basketball team in 1940 and 1943. She also starred in intercollegiate lacrosse.

When Temple started naming women to its Athletic Hall of Fame in 1975, Anne was one of four female athletes to be honored.

Anne was a master motivator and keen competitor who passed on her passion for field hockey as a coach at Temple for 15 years. She produced 20 All-Americas in the sport as a coach.

She and her late husband, Frederick G. Volp, used to entertain her players and former players at their 200-year-old farmhouse in Harleysville, Montgomery County.

Known as "Temple's Little Field General," the 5-foot-3 Anne was easy to spot on the sidelines in her Scottish hat.

She also was a member of the U.S. field-hockey team and in 1955, made the U.S. touring team that played in London on the 60th anniversary celebration of the All-England Women's Hockey Association.

Besides the Temple Hall of Fame, she was named to the USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988.

Besides playing and coaching at Temple, Anne also taught health and physical education. She earned a master's degree at Temple.

She previously taught physical education at her alma mater, Audubon High School in New Jersey where, as Anne McConaghie, she was a legendary athlete.

She co-authored "Lead-Up Games to Team Sports" with O. William Blake, which became a staple for college physical-education majors and remained in print for 25 years.

She and her husband were married in 1945. He was an outstanding athlete himself, having played football and basketball at West Chester University. He was a teacher at the old Ambler High School. He died in 2002.

"My mother loved Temple University," said her son, Frederick D. "Rickey" Volp. "She bled crimson and white."

"She was a much-adored woman. For all her accomplishments, at the end of the day she said all she really wanted was to be known as a great mother."

She adored her husband. "She would say, 'Here was the man who made my life possible,' " Rickey said. "Until the last few years, she had a great life."

Anne completed her teaching and coaching career at Enfield Junior High School in Springfield Township, Montgomery County. She also coached and mentored middle-school students at the Lower Township schools, in Cape May, N.J.

She was the founder and director of the Harleysville Hockey Camp for 25 years.

She also is survived by another son, Gary R. Volp, and four grandchildren.

Services: Will be private.

Donations may be made to the Anne M. Volp Field Hockey Endowment Fund, Temple University Owl Club, 1700 N. Broad St., Philadelphia PA 19122.