Funding in Memory of Past Captain and All-American
A gift in memory of former field hockey captain Aleli “Lee” Reyes Yniguez Taylor ’90 made by her husband, Jeffrey Taylor ’89, and children, Ryan, 9, Zachary, 6, and Lindsay, 2, will fund renovations to the team’s locker room. The existing space will be redesigned to create a more attractive and functional room for holding team meetings.
“An upgrade to our locker room is a real need for our program,” says Coach Nancy Stevens, noting the timeliness of the donation. “It was a remarkable chain of events. We identified this need and began starting a fundraising plan, and then we got a call from Jeff. His gift and generosity couldn’t have come at a better time.”
Wooden lockers with attached seats will replace old metal lockers. The permanent seats will be a welcome upgrade to the current stools that are uncomfortable and congest the locker room. A new display case will provide a much needed home for the team’s collection of 18 Big East and seven Final Four trophies. The modernized space with a first-class showcase will instill pride in the team and also help Stevens recruit top players, she says.
Lee, who died in November 2006 after battling cancer, had been an accomplished student and athlete. She was an All-American 1988 and 1989 and a member of the U.S. Junior Olympic Team in 1988. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Lee went on to earn an M.B.A. at Fairfield University. Lee remained dedicated to her passion for athletics, directing and coaching a field hockey camp in Fairfield for 14 years.
Taylor explains that this gift is a fitting memorial for his wife because UConn had played such a significant role in her life. She had been grateful for the education and scholarship support she received at the University. UConn also was where she achieved great athletic success and met her future husband.
“That’s where we met,” says Taylor. “She played for four years at the University. She was a two-time All-American. She also played on the national team. It was just an important part of who she was.”
Although Stevens became the coach the year after Lee graduated, she had worked with Lee training for the Olympic team. “She was an outstanding student and a remarkable person,” Stevens says. “She was beloved by her teammates.”
The Taylor family's $25,000 gift coupled with $1,000 in additional gifts from friends of the family will fully cover the expenses of the project. Renovations are expected to begin in May and be completed prior to pre-season training for 2007–08.
A plaque in the renovated locker room will call attention to Lee’s legacy.
“We will have a plaque that honors her legacy as an All-American for Connecticut and an outstanding student at the University. She embraced the idea of a student-athlete. She’s an inspirational role model for the players,” says Stevens.
For information about supporting UConn Athletics, please visit uconnhuskies.com or call 860.486.3863.
