Lucille Burkett

Lucille M. Burkett, 94, peacefully passed away on November 3, 2017. Lucy, a native of Columbus, Ohio, graduated from West High School in 1941. Her Bachelor's of Science degree from The Ohio State University was awarded in 1945, followed by a Masters' from the same institution in 1946. She served as an instructor at Ohio State from 1946 to 1952. In 1952 Ms. Burkett became Head of Girls' Physical Education for Shaker Heights High School, and later served as Coordinator for Physical Education & Athletics for Shaker Heights Public Schools until her retirement in 1986. She was an outstanding teacher, coach, and a national professional leader in Physical Education. She touched many students' and colleagues' lives through her dignity, loyalty, determination, perseverance, and enthusiasm. The world was her classroom; her message was quality physical education and sport for all.

Among Ms. Burkett's national leadership roles were the President of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education in 1974-1975. In that role she successfully championed daily physical education for all schools in the United States. Shortly after that she played a major role in informing the public on Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the relationship of the federal statute to competitive sports for women.

Among Lucy's many honors and awards are the Meritorious Award, Ohio Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, 1966; Honor Award, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, 1980; The Joy of Effort from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (1981), and recently she was the recipient of The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology, Outstanding Career Alumni Award, 2012.

Lucy's work in Ohio and in the Midwest is too extensive to describe here, however, one for which she deserves significant credit was the expertise she brought to the committee that created Ohio's first curriculum guide for physical education in the 1960's. She was a mentor to hundreds of persons at the national, state, and local levels; and always had time for and an interest in those with whom she worked and played.

Judy Forward remembers Lucy Burkett or our beloved "Burkie". She was my mentor and inspiring athletic coach, pushing us to reach for our best on the athletic field and in life performance. She never gave up on us, or the game, guiding us to be winners in life.

Patty Forsberg stated knowing Lucy as a colleague and friend these last 60 years, has had a profound impact on my life. One could not ask for a more dedicated teacher who had an enormous influence on so many lives both young and old or a more loyal friend with whom to enjoy life. I will miss our bets on the OSU-Michigan game Lucy.

Lucy was an avid Ohio State Buckeye and proudly wore her scarlet and grey! She lived a wonderful life and will be sadly missed by many friends. Private family service. FRIENDS MAY CALL AT BROWN-FORWARD, 17022 CHAGRIN BLVD., SHAKER HTS., OH 44120 ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30 FROM 4 TO 6 PM.