South Carolina Mourns the Passing of Helen Timmermans
South Carolina Athletics mourns the recent passing of Helen Timmermans, one of the pioneers of women’s sports at the university, who passed away on August 3.
Timmermans played an integral role in the transformation of women’s intercollegiate athletics at South Carolina when she was hired as the University’s first associate director of athletics for women’s sports in January 1974. Women’s athletics teams officially became part of the athletics department at South Carolina at that time as colleges and universities around the country were given three years to comply with the rules of 1972 Title IX legislation.
“Helen Timmermans was a pioneer so that today the University of South Carolina is a beacon for equitable treatment of male and female student-athletes,” said Judy Van Horn, South Carolina’s deputy athletics director, who recently coordinated the department’s celebration of the first female scholarship student-athletes. “She was the first athletics director for the first varsity sports for women here. She laid the foundation and nurtured our strong commitment that now allows women to enjoy the same competitive experience as men. We owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude. She will be missed and will always be appreciated.”
In her new role, Timmermans, a 1963 graduate of the University and a member of its faculty and, for six years, its gymnastics coach beginning in 1966, oversaw the original seven women’s varsity sports programs, including scheduling and appointment of coaches, as well as the awarding of athletics scholarships for women for the first time beginning in 1975.
Timmermans held her position in the athletics department until 1977 and was an assistant professor of physical education at the University until 1999. She was recognized with several awards throughout her career for her role in making significant contributions to women in sports as well as for excellence in education. Her former students and colleagues remember her as a true mentor, a highly organized instructor who laid out clear expectations of her students and a shining example to her student-athletes.
Timmermans continued to actively support the Gamecock programs throughout her life, and South Carolina Athletics is thankful for her role in giving female student-athletes a meaningful experience in the quest for equal opportunities.
Services for Helen Timmermans will be held on Sunday, August 18, 2019, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Cayce, S.C., at 3 p.m. Interment will follow at Woodridge Memorial Park in Lexington. Memorial contributions may be made to Howlmore Animal Sanctuary at P.O. Box 61128, Columbia, SC 29260.
