UNH Today

In Memoriam: Sam Coffey ’14

Sam Coffey '14

Mention Sam Coffey ’14 to just about anyone who knew him, and chances are you’ll hear one of two things, seemingly contradictory at first blush, but ultimately in absolute agreement: Sam had a way of making everyone feel like they were his best friend. Sam didn’t have any friends — because everyone who met him immediately became family.

In Memoriam: Cathy Coakley ’72, ’75G

Cathy Coakley

Worn-out uniforms. Minimal publicity. Half-court hoops played before mostly empty bleachers. These were the facts of life for many female basketball players prior to the enactment of Title IX legislation. Prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded programs and activities, the 1972 law helped bring women’s basketball and other sports into equal status with men’s.

Next Stop, Tokyo?

Last year, she was the best in the country. This year, she’s among the best in the world. In October, Elle Purrier ’18 finished out her rookie year as a professional runner with a trip to the world championships in Doha, Qatar, where she competed in the finals of the women’s 5-kilometer race — an event she qualified for after competing in the distance only three times as a professional.

Filling Bellies

Megan Taft ’01 came to UNH from suburban Connecticut knowing what she didn’t want: a career in a cubicle. She immediately joined an outdoor education class for a week of backpacking in the White Mountains — even though she had never hiked a mountain before. The stretching set in motion her first week at UNH hasn’t stopped since.

Opening Doors

At eight months old, the UNH Police Department’s newest recruit will be by far the youngest member of the force. She’s also the only one with four legs. A rescue lab from Pennsylvania, Charlee was brought on board by Chief Paul Dean to support his team’s work with students. With research showing the positive and therapeutic impact animals have on humans, Dean says it was a no-brainer.