Basketball Visionary Dave Gavitt '59 Passes Away

HANOVER, N.H. — The founder of the Big East Conference, former president of USA Basketball and a member of the Dartmouth Class of 1959, Dave Gavitt, passed away in a hospital near his hometown of Rumford, R.I., on Friday evening at the age of 73. Gavitt played on the last two Big Green men's basketball Ivy championship teams in 1958 and 1959 and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

“The Dartmouth community has lost one of its true sons,” stated Dartmouth Athletics Director Harry Sheehy on Monday. “Dave Gavitt had an immeasurable impact on countless players, coaches and administrators. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Julie, and two sons, Dan and Corey.”

Dartmouth men's basketball head coach Paul Cormier said, “I have never met a man that had such extraordinary vision, compassion and desire to help college athletics and all those involved as Dave Gavitt. He was a great coach, administrator, innovator and leader, not to mention the best problem solver I have ever met. He will be sorely missed, but never forgotten, by the Dartmouth community and the many he touched in and out of athletics around the world.”

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, September 22, at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, 30 Fenner Street, Providence, R.I., followed by a private burial. Calling hours will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Monahan Drabble Sherman Funeral Home, 230 Waterman Street, Providence. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dave's memory may be made to: Dartmouth College, 6066 Development Office, Hanover, NH, 03755; Providence College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 1 Cunningham Square, Providence, RI, 02918; or Roger Williams Medical Center, 825 Chalkstone Avenue, Providence, RI, 02908. Condolences may be left at monahandrabblesherman.com.

For more information on Gavitt's career in athletics, please visit the following links:

Sports Illustrated
ESPN.com
New York Times

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