Nora McDERMOTT

McDERMOTT, Nora June
June 25, 1927 – May 16, 2013
Nora died peacefully at Lions Gate Hospital after a short illness. She is survived by loving family members and many close friends. Nora attended John Oliver Secondary School and graduated as top student from UBC, with a B. Ed and B. PE. and began her teaching career at John Oliver. Later, she became the first woman PE department head in Vancouver, at Eric Hamber High School, where she coached sports teams 3 seasons per year for 27 years. Nora was named the most outstanding basketball player in Canada and was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the Vancouver Eiler's basketball team, winning 10 Canadian championships. She starred on Canada's Pan American basketball team in 1955, 1959, 1963, and managed the 1967 medal winning team. She also played on two Canadian volleyball championship teams. Nora was inducted into the Basketball Canada Hall of Fame as the first woman individual player. She is also a member of the Basketball BC Hall of Fame and the UBC Sports Hall of Fame. She was a devout member of St. Pius X Catholic Church, 1150 Mount Seymour Rd, North Vancouver, where a funeral Mass will be held on Friday, May 24, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lions Gate Hospital Foundation or Hospice, or the BC Cancer Society.