Edith Godleski was commonly known as "Edie" when she lived in Terre Haute decades ago and nobody would deny that Edie was a pioneer in the early stages of women's athletics at Indiana State University.
Godleski died Oct. 7 in Hudson, Florida, at the age of 92. An announcement of her death didn't come until Friday from Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home & Alpha Crematory in Eagle River, Wisconsin, the state in which she was born March 13, 1934.
Godleski was inducted into the ISU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.
"Edith Godleski coached the Indiana State women’s basketball team for 11 seasons, but her impact on women’s athletics went far beyond the basketball court." the introduction on her ISU Hall of Fame page said. "Godleski came to Indiana State in 1967 as an assistant professor in women’s physical education and was the director of women’s intramurals.
"After the formation of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women [AIAW] in 1972, Godleski was instrumental in the formation of the Indiana AIAW and the Midwest AIAW along with Indiana State’s Dr. Millie Lemen, former ISU director of athletics Andi Myers and Dr. Eleanor St. John. Godleski and Lemen served on the Board of Directors for both the IAIAW and the MAIAW during the early years of the organizations."
Godleski took over the first ISU women's basketball program in 1971, when the Sycamores went 4-9, yet she ended up with only three losing seasons.
Finishing her ISU coaching career with a 156-116 record, Godleski is second in winning percentage at .577, just behind Jim Wiedie's .585 (2000-10). Godleski's 156 victories trails only Wiedie's 166.
By the way, the third-highest percentage at Indiana State is owned by current Indiana University women's coach Teri Moren (.547 in 2010-14) and fourth is current Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve (.462 in 1995-2000).
Indiana State also made their first two appearances in the Women’s NIT under Godleski’s reign (1976 and 1977). Five ISU Hall of Famers played women's basketball under Godleski's tutelage, including Ann Reifel, Jan Conner, Barbara Graves, Patricia Porter and Denise Sharps.
A natural athlete, Godleski played club basketball for Three Lakes High School from 1947 to 1951, according to the Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home & Alpha Crematory obituary.
She went on to earn her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and later her master's degree through study at the University of Oslo in Norway and Michigan State University.
"Her teaching career took her around the world," her Wisconsin obituary emphasized. "For seven years, she taught on U.S. military bases in Morocco, Midway Island, Yokohama, Japan, Naples, Italy and Lakenheath, England. She later taught at Fredonia State University in New York before joining Indiana State University in 1967."
Godleski also coached the ISU golf team for four years.
An avid golfer herself, Godleski was as accomplished on the course as on the sideline. She won six Terre Haute Women's City championships and recorded seven holes-in-one. After retiring from ISU, she moved to Florida for its warmer weather and year-round golfing.
In addition, Godleski served on the Tribune-Star's 1999 panel that selected Vigo County's top male and female athletes from the 20th Century.
Funeral services are pending in November at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Three Lakes, Wisconsin. Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home & Alpha Crematory is handling the arrangements.
Godleski is survived by her brother, Arthur Godleski; her sister, Julie Leonard; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Laura Godleski; her sister, Ruth Mary Carstensen; and her best friend and golfing partner, Barb Domst, who died Oct. 24, 2012.
Saturday is the 14th anniversary of Domst's death.