Winthrop lost one of its greatest all-time citizens this past week with the passing of Pat McGee, a person who did so much for our community during her long life.
Pat was a legendary track coach for decades of the Winthrop High boys track program. Her many Northeastern Conference titles and winning record — while coaching the smallest school in the NEC — exceeded Belichickian-standards for which she was inducted into the Mass. High School Track Coaches Hall of Fame.
The new track at Miller Field was named the Pat McGee Track not only for her many years of exemplary coaching, but also for her dogged determination to ensure that future generations of Winthrop athletes would have a worthy track and field facility, particularly after the former track at Miller Field fell into such disrepair that Winthrop High was unable to host home track meets.
Pat also was an outstanding vocalist who was an active member of the Winthrop Playmakers for many years. It was thanks to Pat’s leadership that the Playmakers were able to secure their playhouse at 60 Hermon St., a former church building, from the town.
But what we’ll most remember about Pat is how much she loved Winthrop and the people of our community. Pat always could be counted upon to “tell it like it is†in her direct and straightforward manner that cut right to the heart of the issue at hand.
Pat McGee will be remembered as a woman of dignity, class, and sportsmanship who was a credit to Winthrop High, our town, and her family.
We know we join with all of our fellow townspeople in offering our condolences to her children, Paul, Kevin, Trisha, and John, as well as to her large extended family, for their loss.
May she rest in peace.