In Memoriam: Claire Chamberlain, 1944-2024

Claire Chamberlain, associate professor emerita at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, passed away on May 23. She was 79 years old.

Chamberlain spent nearly four decades as a faculty member and athletic coach at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She began her career in 1971 as an instructor in the department of physical education at Lowell State College, now UMass Lowell. She served as chair of her department from 1984 until 1991, and founded the department’s minor program in coaching. In 1991, she transitioned to the department of physical therapy and kinesiology, where she served as the academic coordinator in clinical education for undergraduates majoring in exercise physiology.

In addition to her teaching endeavors, Chamberlain was dedicated to advancing women’s collegiate athletics. At Umass Lowell, she co-founded women’s teams in softball, volleyball, basketball, tennis, and field hockey, and had stints as head coach of the women’s tennis and basketball teams, as well as the co-ed archery team. Additionally, she served as the university’s Title IX coordinator.

Outside of her roles with UMass Lowell, Chamberlain was a founder of the Massachusetts Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, and later served as the organization’s president. She also served as president for the Eastern Association for Physical Education of College Women.

Chamberlain’s contributions to UMass Lowell earned her the university’s inaugural Outstanding Faculty Advisor of the Year award in 1998. She retired from her role 10 years later. In 2017, she made a donation to the university, establishing the Professor Claire Chamberlain Endowed Scholarship Fund to support undergraduate students pursing a teaching degree in the School of Education.

Chamberlain was a two-time graduate of Tufts University in Massachusetts, where she received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in education.