Fall 2012 Issue - Colby-Sawyer College

In Memoriam
Beloved Professor Emerita and Coach
Reva E. Bailey
by Kimberly Swick Slover
F
aculty Emerita
Reva E. Bailey, 86,
an admired
professor and
coach at the
college from 1962
to 1986, died on June 22,
2012, at New London
Hospital.
Professor Bailey was a gentle, genuine
person and a strong advocate for
students.
Professor Bailey was born
in Arlington, Ohio, the
daughter of Roi E. and
Ruth L. (Solt) Bailey. She
earned a B.S. in Physical
110 Colby-Sawyer College Magazine
Education and Recreation
and completed her
master’s degree at Bowling
Green State University.
After teaching in Ohio and
Michigan for a number
of years, Professor Bailey
joined Colby Junior
College. She was chair of
the Women’s Physical
Education Department,
which became the Exercise
and Sport Sciences Department
and the Athletics
Program, and coached
basketball, volleyball and
cross-country skiing. She
was also instrumental in
organizing the college’s
Equestrian Program.
Director of Student
Affairs and alumna Nancy
Teach ’70, ’84 met
Professor Bailey in 1968.
“Reva would always greet
me with a big smile, take
my hand, look me in the
eyes and ask how I was
doing,” Teach recalls. “She
taught me how to ski at
King Ridge. Reva cared
deeply about Colby-Sawyer
students, colleagues and
alums. I admired her
positive attitude.”
Bailey was also well known
for her sense of humor.
“She was very much a
prankster and at the ready
to pull off a practical joke
or retell a funny adventure,”
adds Teach. “Even
during her last few weeks
she had that twinkle, that
rascal expression. Humor
was one of her finest
qualities.”
Director of the Windy Hill
School and Associate
Professor of Social
Sciences and Education
Janet Bliss ’71 remembers
Professor Bailey well. “I
adored Reva,” she says.
“When I was a student at
Colby Junior College
everyone was required to
take a sport. For me it was
archery and golf, two
things I had never imagined
doing. There was
never a more encouraging
and genuinely nice person
than Reva. I always tried
harder because she insisted
I had plenty of potential.
Turns out I could hit
that golf ball pretty well!
Over the years I continued
to admire Reva’s gentle
and kind demeanor, and
her longtime support
of and interest in Colby-
Sawyer College.”
Professor Bailey’s colleagues
also admired and
respected her. “Reva was
one of the most genuine
people on this planet,”
says Director of Athletics
Deb McGrath. “I remember
how much she gave of
herself to her teams, her
colleagues and this college
that she loved so dearly.
Her smile was infectious
and I will never forget her
distinctive chuckle!”
Trustee Emerita Patricia
“Pat” Kelsey taught
physical education courses
at Colby Junior College and
found Professor Bailey, her
boss, a great joy to work
with. They remained close
over the next 30 years.
“Reva was just a marvelous,
gentle, lovely person,”
Kelsey says. “She was
devoted to her students
and to the college.”
She is survived by her
longtime friend and
companion Barbara J.
MacDonald and her sister,
Marcia Haenszel of
Marion, Ohio; two nieces,
a nephew and several
cousins.