Patrick F. McGlade, women's sports backer
In the early 1970s, Patrick F. McGlade was a bit troubled that his six very athletic sisters had no place to play summer basketball.
In the early 1970s, Patrick F. McGlade was a bit troubled that his six very athletic sisters had no place to play summer basketball.
Those were the days before federal legislation required equality in sports, sister Agnus Berenato said, and "in the summer there was no place to play."
So, she said, Mr. McGlade helped organize the first such summer league, eight to 10 teams of players from several schools in Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties.
It certainly helped Berenato, who retired in 2013 as head women's basketball coach at the University of Pittsburgh.
Another sister, Bernadette McGlade, recalled that her brother "committed a tremendous amount of time" while he helped run the league through the 1970s.
"He was very proud of us," said McGlade, the Atlantic 10 commissioner for men's and women's sports since 2008.
On Tuesday, March 22, Mr. McGlade, 69, of Cape May, died of congestive heart failure at his home.
"Pat cared," said Deirdre Kane, who retired in 2014 after 27 years as head women's basketball coach at West Chester University.
Apart from his work with the summer league, Kane said in an interview, "he was instrumental in getting women recognized and part of the Al Carino Basketball Club of South Jersey," a sponsor of youth events, which, she said, had been exclusively male before Mr. McGlade's efforts.
"He did it for all of us, not just his family," Kane said. "He cared about us when no one else did.
"Patrick," Kane said, "was an ace."
Born in Woodbury, Mr. McGlade grew up in Gloucester City, graduated in 1964 from Gloucester Catholic High School, and earned a bachelor's in business at the former Christian Brothers College near Pittsburgh in 1968, sister Theresa McGlade said.
From then until 2000, she said, he was a real estate and insurance agent, first for the family office in Gloucester City operated by their mother, Theresa, until 1985, and then for the firm that bought the agency.
From 2000 until he retired after more than 10 years, she said, he was a van driver in Atlantic City.
Besides his six sisters, Mr. McGlade is survived by two brothers.
A life celebration is being planned.
Donations may be sent to the Theresa M. McGlade Scholarship Fund, Box 616, Gloucester City, N.J. 08030.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.spilkerfuneralhome.com.
610-313-8134@WNaedele