One Coach, Countless Lives Changed: The Legacy of Pam Bent
As we think about inspiration and the teachers who have touched Graland students’ lives for the better, it’s impossible to ignore the impact of Pam Bent, a Graland educator from 1972 to 1984 who taught PE, coached girls’ field hockey and lacrosse, and led the Physical Education Department. Pam passed away in December 2016, and the outpouring of appreciation, admiration, and grief from alumni, parents of alumni, and former colleagues at that time confirmed her incredible influence on more than a decade of teaching and inspiring Graland.
As we think about inspiration and the teachers who have touched Graland students’ lives for the better, it’s impossible to ignore the impact of Pam Bent, a Graland educator from 1972 to 1984 who taught PE, coached girls’ field hockey and lacrosse, and led the Physical Education Department. Pam passed away in December 2016, and the outpouring of appreciation, admiration, and grief from alumni, parents of alumni, and former colleagues at that time confirmed her incredible influence on more than a decade of teaching and inspiring Graland.
The Legacy of Coach Bent
Pam was the kind of coach that no one forgot. She truly loved the student-athletes that she coached. During her 2019 posthumous induction into the Miss Porter’s School Athletics Hall of Fame, Pam’s alma mater acknowledged that “Pam’s teams defied expectations simply because they wanted to win for their beloved, Coach Bent.” As the founder of the Colorado Girls’ Lacrosse Association, her role in bringing the game of girls’ lacrosse to Colorado cannot be overstated. She introduced women’s lacrosse to many in the state and was also inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. Pam was a legend in Colorado.
Pam Bent: Philanthropist
Pam is remembered fondly as a passionate, talented, and giving individual who is truly an inspiration to many. Pam’s joy and contagious confidence are remembered and missed. Pam was also philanthropic. With foresight and planning, she extended her financial impact beyond her death. In her estate plans, Pam left a substantial endowed gift to Graland to be split evenly between the athletics program she loved and the school’s greatest priorities.
Pam’s sister, Dede, visited Graland following Pam’s passing. At that time, she shared, “Our family is thrilled that Pam has, by this legacy, chosen to support Graland Country Day School in a meaningful way and in perpetuity, as I know she strongly believed in the values and mission that Graland embodies. I am well aware of how meaningful Pam’s gift will be to Graland’s future.”
Pam Bent Fund for Athletics In Action
In the past year, the PE & Athletics Department was grateful to thoughtfully leverage the distribution from the endowed Pam Bent Fund for Athletics to improve many facets of the Graland athletic experience for students, educators, and visitors alike. Namely, Pam’s fund allowed for the purchase of an updated filtered water-bottle fountain in the lobby of the Graland Fieldhouse, two new treadmills in the Patricia Crown Family Fitness Room, enhanced grips and a self-belaying system for the Freyer Family Climbing Wall, impressive Eagle mascot signage in the Hamilton Gymnasium and Fieldhouse lobby, and most notably, a new 15-passenger bus, affectionately named the “Bent Bus,” which is a huge resource to coaches in transporting Graland athletes to and from practices and competitions. In addition, the fund is paying for free after-school spring sports camps for students in Grades 3-5 to get them excited about Graland Athletics.
According to Graland’s Athletic Director, Monica Johnson, “Pam Bent’s contribution to the Graland community is felt by students and faculty daily. From spring sports camps for students to treadmills and climbing wall improvements, we are so grateful for her lasting legacy.”
Pam’s sister, Dede, also reflected on the powerful and lasting impact of Pam’s bequest this year, sharing her family’s long-held belief that “students gain as many—if not more—social and academic skills on the playing field as they do in the classroom. Starting with our father, a standout athlete and Illinois badminton champion in the 1940s, our family has always believed in the importance of athletics in students’ lives. Pam’s gift to Graland is a reflection of her deep passion for sharing that belief with her students.”
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Graland is incredibly grateful for the legacy Pam Bent created through her bequest. A member of Graland’s Montem Society, Pam is joined by 53 others who have designated Graland with a planned gift. These meaningful commitments make a difference for Graland now and into the future. For more information about the Graland Montem Society and leaving a legacy for Graland, please visit plannedgiving.graland.org.
Click to view a fun video that the Graland PE & Athletics Department created to share gratitude for Pam’s gifts to Graland.
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
