East Carolina Athletics Mourns The Passing Of Dr. Henry VanSant
March 16, 2006 | General
March 16, 2006
Obituary (below) as printed in the Greenville Daily Reflector
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina University and the entire Pirate Athletics community is mourning the loss of Dr. Henry VanSant, who passed away at the age of 70 Thursday in Fayetteville, N.C.
Dr. VanSant's association with ECU spanned over six decades as he served as both coach and administrator at his alma mater. He played on the Pirate football team from 1957 to 1960 and then served as an assistant coach under the legendary Clarence Stasavich from 1962 to 1970 before working on Pat Dye's staff in 1979.
Dr. VanSant began his administrative tenure at ECU in 1985 as an assistant to the athletic director before earning the title of associate athletic director two years later, a position he held until he retired in 2001. He also served as interim athletic director following Dave Hart's departure in 1994. Nine years later in 2003, Dr. VanSant was most deservedly inducted into the East Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame.
A native of Hampton, Va., Dr. VanSant was preceeded in death by his wife Ronny. He is survived by sons Chuck and John.
DR. HENRY C. VANSANT
Dr. Henry C. VanSant, 70, retired ECU Associate Athletic Director and member of the ECU Sports Hall of Fame, died Thursday, March 16, 2006. A memorial service will be conducted Thursday at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church.
Henry VanSant, born in Hampton, Va., came to Greenville to play football for ECU. He served as a leader, educator, coach and athletic administrator for 36 years until his retirement in 2001. Twenty five of those years were spent at ECU. He was inducted into the ECU Sports Hall of Fame for his service and dedication to East Carolina University.
Henry was a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church and a contributing member of the Greenville Lions Club. He devoted the past five years of his life to caring for his wife and enjoying his family. Flora Ragnhilde McDonald, his loving wife of 46 years, died in 2005. He is survived by sons, Charles McDonald VanSant, of Washington, D.C., and John Franklin VanSant and wife, Nancy, of Dublin, Ga.; and five grandchildren.
There will be a reception and family visitation held Wednesday, beginning at 5 p.m., at Harvey Hall in the Murphy Center on the ECU athletic campus. The Murphy Center is located in the western end zone of Dowdy Ficklin Stadium. Attendees can enter from Charles Boulevard onto Ficklin Drive, where parking will be available beside Minges Coliseum.
In lieu of flowers, memorials gifts may be made to the ECU Educational Foundation, for the Henry VanSant Scholarship Endowment, ECU Ward Sports Medicine Building, Suite 304, Greenville, NC 27858-4353; or the McConnell-Raab Hope Lodge, 930-A Wellness Drive, Greenville, NC 27834. Arrangements by Wilkerson Funeral Home & Crematory.
