Natalie Park, Star Of Lacrosse Field, Art Teacher, 89

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Natalie Elizabeth Park, a retired art educator at Boston's
[Massachusetts] Winsor School, former member of the US lacrosse team,
and a Navy volunteer during World War II, died October 15, 2002, at
Riveredge Retirement Home in Kennebunk, Maine, at the age of 89, with
Alzheimer's disease.

After graduating from Belmont High School at age 16, she attended
Lasell Junior College, then studied art education at Wellesley
College, earning a bachelor's degree and later a master's degree.

An outstanding athlete, Miss Park played for the national lacrosse
team from 1933 to 1939, according to her nephew, Kennedy Richardson of
Boston. She also excelled in badminton and played for the Boston field
hockey team against regional competition in the 1930s.

"Lacrosse was her prominent sport," Richardson said.

After volunteering for the Navy during World War II, Miss Park became
a member of the WAVES, an emergency volunteer service for women.

"Her love for the sea brought her into the Navy," her nephew recalled.

Stationed for the most part in Hartford, Miss Park rose through the
ranks, ultimately becoming a lieutenant commander of naval
intelligence.

Miss Park taught art history at Wellesley for five years before being
named chairwoman of the Winsor School's art department in 1956. In
addition to her administrative duties, she coached a range of sports
at the school.

"You name it, she coached it," Richardson said.

Despite her responsibilities as a coach and educator, Miss Park still
found time for her own artwork, and took first prize for her painting,
"Kite Mosaic," at the 1951 Boston Art Festival. She retired from the
Winsor School in 1983.

Miss Park spent most of her summers in Wells, Maine. For the past 60
years, she had also been perfecting her special brand of beach plum
jelly, Richardson said.

"For her the glass was always half full," he said.

Boston Globe