Hall of Fame
Nancy Viola received her B.S. from SUNY Cortland and her M.S. and Administrative degree from SUNY Brockport. Her career began in Rush Henrietta where she taught Physical Education at all levels from 1965-1981. IN 1981 she joined the Batavia City SD as the Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics until her retirement in 1998.
Nancy’s love for and involvement in Physical Education spans decades of change. As a female high school athlete at Rush Henrietta in the late 1950s she remembered the early inter-school Play-Days. Over the following years, she saw rule changes that morphed her high school basketball playing experience to a game similar to what we know today. Nancy found it fascinating to track the gradual changes to girls' and women's basketball rules concerning the center line and ball-dribbling and the total game of today. Nancy considers herself lucky to have been actively involved in many changes of those organizations at all levels throughout her career.
Nancy remembers that in the early 70’s the Section V Girls’ Basketball Tournament just started and some schools did not even have uniforms. As basketball chairperson of Section V and later of the NYSPHSAA, she was privileged to watch the sport grow exponentially both in terms of skill level and of spectator draw. Moving from playing Section V finals in high school gyms to games in the War Memorial with huge crowds attending was monumental. School participation went from three classifications to nine. Nancy was also a member of the Section V Executive for over 10 years.
In 1975 Nancy was appointed to chair the Girls’ State Basketball Committee. Since the Albany lawmakers were about to legislate a tournament for the girls, as was already the case for the boys, she was told by the NYSPHSAA officials, “It will be a happening — get it done.” She did! In 1981 the full NYSPHSAA Girls’ Basketball tournament that we know as today's basic format became a reality. Those first finals took place right here in Monroe County at the University of Rochester. What a fun challenge.
Among Ms. Viola’s recognitions are: Batavia CSD Athletic Hall of Fame: 2008;
Section V Basketball Hall of Fame: 2001; Jean Giambrone Award: 1985; Rochester Red Wing Walk of Fame and was chosen to work with Kodak to chaperone for the Kodak Women’s Basketball NCAA All-Americans at the Final Four for 10 years.
Nancy was also instrumental in expanding the Batavia City SD programs and facilities through her 18 years there and still marvels at the contributions and legacies of many of her former students. She now enjoys traveling around the globe and is a active in ‘birding’ throughout the United States and internationally.