Mary Frank McCormick, born in 1928, developed her athletic skills early in life by regularly playing sports with her four older brothers and their friends. She experienced no female competition until she reached high school, where Mary was a record-setting varsity basketball player in the Philadelphia Catholic League. As a four-year starter for the Mighty Macs of Immaculata (1946-1950), Mary led the league in scoring, frequently described as the “best forward around,” and was selected for the first team College All-Star Team.

Field hockey was first introduced to Mary at Immaculata, and she immediately served as a four-year starter and team captain. Years later, Mary started the first field hockey team for 7th and 8th grade girls at St. Agnes School in West Chester, the first elementary program in Chester County.

As a high school and college student, Mary played multiple softball positions, often playing for multiple teams in a single season. In 1947 she batted .625 and was described in a Philadelphia Inquirer article as “The Female Babe Ruth of Delaware County.” In 1948, as catcher and shortstop for the Pottstown Cardinalettes, she and her teammates won the national championship of the Amateur Softball Association in Portland, Oregon.

Mary’s affiliation with Immaculata continued from 1951-1955 when she served as the athletic director as well as coach of the basketball and field hockey teams. After having married, moved to West Chester, and raised a family of five, Mary returned to Immaculata College in 1973 where she served as the business manager for the Mighty Macs basketball team. In this position, she was responsible for scheduling games, designing and ordering uniforms, making all travel accommodations, selling advertisements, producing game programs, hiring game officials, fund raising and public relations. Although now retired from that position, Mary continues to be the “go to” person for information on the Mighty Macs and was a consultant for the 2009 movie bearing that name.

Perhaps Mary’s greatest single contribution to Chester County is her 60-year commitment to teaching thousands of children and adults how to swim. Working closely with Cathy Hay, she has given group and individual lessons at public and private pools, country clubs, and colleges, some of her students having earned high school and college All-America status. Mary can often be seen in attendance at local swim meets, games, and youth activities supporting her grandchildren and the many others who lovingly call her “Nana.”