Sister Maria Pares, a coaching legend not only at Canisius College, but throughout Western New York, passed away on Friday afternoon following a 16-year battle with cancer. She was 75.
The first female head coach to be inducted into the Canisius Sports Hall of Fame, Pares posted a career record of 108-39 as the head women's basketball coach at Canisius from 1981-86. After serving as the long-time head coach at Sacred Heart Academy in Buffalo, Pares took over the Canisius program in 1981-82, where her Golden Griffins won 22-straight games en route to a 26-5 record and a fourth-place finish at the AIAW Regional.
In 1982-83, the Blue and Gold posted a 28-5 record, won 15 consecutive games and advanced to the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals, while the 1983-84 squad earned a second-place ECAC finish after recording a 23-8 overall mark. The 1982-83 Converse Region II Coach of the Year, Pares left Canisius after the 1985-86 campaign as the school's winningest women's basketball coach, a record she held for 26 years. In her time on Main Street, she coached three All-Americans, never lost back-to-back games and posted a .735 career win percentage, which ranks first in the program's history. She also served as an assistant coach with the Canisius softball program.
Pares was inducted into the Canisius Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and then again in 2011 when the 1982-83 edition of the women's basketball team was honored as the first women's team to join the College's Sports Hall of Fame. A member of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, she became the fifth woman associated with the Canisius basketball program to be named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Basketball Hall of Fame Honor Roll in Springfield, Massachusetts in October 2015. For her career accomplishments at the scholastic level, she is a member of both the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame and the Sacred Heart Hall of Fame.
Calling hours will be held from 4-8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 26 and Friday Jan. 27 at Amigone Funeral Home, located at 1132 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo.There will be a special prayer service held Friday at 7 p.m., at the funeral home as well.
A Mass of Christina Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28 at St. Michael's Church, located at 661 Washington Street in Buffalo.
Expressions of Sympathy and Thoughts on Sister Maria Pares
"Sister Maria was an icon for women's basketball in Western New York and Canisius College is proud to have been part a part of her impact on our community.
Sister had a presence about her in every interaction that always left you with an impression that you could and always should do more. Canisius College, the game of basketball in Western New York and the young women she coached have forever benefited from her involvement. She will be missed but never forgotten." – Bill Maher '89, Canisius Director of Athletics
"I attended the MAAC Hall of Honor Induction of Sister Maria Pares at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. I had met with Sister Maria many times before, but this was the first time I was able to speak with her one-on-one. You can't be the Senior Woman Administrator at Canisius College without hearing about Sister Maria. When learning about the history of women's sports, Sister Maria is truly much of the thread in the fabric. I was able to thank her for influencing so many women to work hard at what they want out of life, through sports.
I was hoping to steal a nugget of wisdom or at least just absorb some of that spunk she was so famous for. I was humbled to visit with someone who had had such an impact on girls and women. She was a firm believer in women coaching women. She promoted and supported women in all they did. I admired her influence on her players. She truly was an early version of a Senior Woman Administrator - a woman who enhanced the involvement of women in athletics and always shared the female perspective to all that would listen. Her legacy for women and women's sports lives on through all the players she coached and mentored." – Traci Murphy, Canisius associate athletic director and Senior Woman Administrator
"Sister Maria helped put the spotlight on women as student-athletes at Canisius. She was a great role model and she always advocated for the girls. She taught them to be tough, and to be the best they could be.” – Mike Rappl '77, former Canisius softball and women's basketball coach
"Sister Maria had such an influence on not only on the Canisius women's basketball program, but all women's athletics. She was a true teacher of the game of basketball, as well as the game of life. I will always remember her for the positive effect she had on me, and the women's basketball program at Canisius." – Terry Zeh, head women's basketball coach
"Sister Maria had an amazing impact, both on the court and off the court as well. She was someone who wanted the best out of her players, and the best for her players. I had the chance to meet her when I was in high school, and then again when I was coaching high school. I think the most amazing thing about her was her drive to always learn more about the game. When she came to me and asked to sit in one of my practices to see how I ran my program, it was an incredibly humbling experience for me as someone who grew up here and as a head coach." – Reggie Witherspoon, head men's basketball coach
Former players, friends and Canisius fans are invited to submit their memories of Sister Maria to the Canisius athletic department by emailing thoughts to sports@canisius.edu. Please note, unless specifically mentioned in the email, all submissions will be posted on GoGriffs.com and the department's social media channels throughout the week.
