Mary Jo Haverbeck, a pioneer for women in sports information at the collegiate level, died in State College, Pennsylvania, on January 6. She was 74 years old.
A native of Wilmington, Delaware, Haverbeck served as an associate sports information director at Pennsylvania State University for 25 years from 1974 to 1999. She was instrumental in bringing women’s collegiate sports to national prominence.
Haverbeck was the first woman inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of American Hall of Fame.
Dave Joyner, director of athletics at Penn State, stated, “We are saddened by the passing of Mary Jo Haverbeck. Mary Jo truly was a pioneer in the athletic communications field, not only at Penn State, but nationwide. Mary Jo played a critical role in the growth and awareness of Penn State women’s athletics, in particular. She was great mentor and friend to Penn State students, student-athletes, coaches and many others who were in athletic communications and the media.”
Haverbeck was a graduate of the University of Delaware, where she majored in education. She held a master’s degree in journalism from Penn State.