Husson University athletics will have a new facility later this fall as it broke ground on a new hitting pavilion. The Fran O'Keefe Hitting Pavilion will be constructed over the next month to create a new space located next to the O'Keefe Softball Field.
"The players, coaches and I are incredibly grateful for Bob's generosity and we feel honored to share in this memorial of Fran," said head softball coach Diann Ramsey. "The Fran O'Keefe Hitting Pavilion will provide a valuable training advantage for the program."
Bob and Fran O'Keefe provided support in 2005 to create a new softball field at Husson and have continued to support the complex and softball program for almost two decades. In 2013, they again stepped up their support for the addition of the press box and additional bleachers.
Over the past year, Bob O'Keefe worked with the university to help bring his vision of a hitting pavilion to life, again stepping up to help fund the project. "This is in memory of Fran, she was the one who encouraged us to ask Husson what they needed 20 years ago," said O'Keefe. "Former President Bill Beardsely said they needed a new softball field, Fran said let's do it, so with this new project we are furthering Fran's legacy on campus."
"Bob and Fran's support has created one of the premiere softball facilities in New England which hosted the 2021 NCAA Northeast Regional, said director of athletics Frank Pergolizzi. "Their support has helped create a softball program that has won 11 out of the last 13 NAC Championships including notching wins at each of the last two NCAA appearances."
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