Barb Mullaly, former UPEI athletic director, passes away

UPEI lost a "great friend" Saturday with the passing of former athletic director Barb Mullaly.

Flags at UPEI will be lowered to half mast to honour Mullaly, who passed away in Charlottetown after a brief illness, the university said.

She was 70.

'Community is saddened'

"The entire university community is saddened by the passing of UPEI founder Barb Mullaly," the university's president Alaa Abd-El-Azizsaid in a statement.

"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."

It was easy to see her passion for the university and its people. That dedication extended to many other community organizations as wellUPEI President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz

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.

Sheeventually served13 years as director of athletics, and then retired as the first director of Wellness and Fair Treatment Advocate in 2006.

Mullalyalso served as president of Atlantic University Sportand chaired numerous committees and sports. Upon retirement, she was awarded an honorary lifetime membership in the AUS.

Outstanding service

She was the long-time chair of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport 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.

"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," Abd-El-Aziz said.

President of Seniors College PEI

Mullaly 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.

• P.E.I.'s popular Seniors College about to start 18th year

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.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | A passion for puppets: Maritime Marionettes have the world by a string

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | Inside 2 sumptuous Summerside homes decorated for the holidays