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Local sports
pioneer leaves
a legacy in
peaceful place
POMFRET — Inspiring young athletes for decades, Pam Childs left a lasting mark on high school girls’ basketball in northeastern Connecticut. She coached her Putnam teams to 411 wins and eight Quinebaug Valley Conference titles from 1969 to 1999.
At her 2001 induction into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the three words that many used to describe her were: “Legend. Pioneer. Institution.”
In retirement, Childs continued to inspire, enthusiastically encouraging others to enjoy the beauty of the Quiet Corner. She led the Wednesday Noon Walks at the Connecticut Audubon Society’s Center at Pomfret for over 10 years. The longtime Audubon volunteer died July 27, 2021, but her impact and legacy continue.
“She was welcoming and attentive to the needs of those she led, making sure they were comfortable with the pace and trail terrain,” said Sarah Heminway, director of the CT Audubon Northeast Region. “She was also famous for the stacks of walking sticks she made for the Center nature store.”
“Pam was a dear friend to Connecticut Audubon,” she added. “Her legacy is to encourage all of us to ‘go for a walk’ and appreciate the beauty around us. Her fellow walkers and friends placed a granite bench in her memory on the west side of the Day Brook trail of the Bafflin Sanctuary in Pomfret. We encourage everyone to go for a walk, enjoy Pam’s bench and consider all that she contributed to our region.”
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