LaDuke Inducted into the VISAA Hall of Fame

10/18/2023

Cathy “La” LaDuke was posthumously inducted into the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Hall of Fame on Oct. 16 in recognition of her 20 years as Chatham Hall athletic director and overall commitment to sports.

A ceremony for her and the other three inductees was held in Richmond, Va. Several community members were present, including Trustees Hunt Whitehead P’22 and Adair Hendrickson Ravencraft ‘02, Dr. Taylor Taliaferro ‘06, current Parent Advisory Committee President Kimber Keating P’20, ‘22, 24, and faculty members Corinna Hedge Howell ‘12, Jennifer Hiltwine, and Christine Cutright Knight P’19.

“An accomplished athletic director, coach, colleague, and friend, La was a person of deep faith, and this guided her. She was a leader who understood people, what motivates them, and how to tap into their strengths as a player, student, and mentor. She was a natural connector,” said Knight, who worked with LaDuke in the School’s Office of Advancement & Alumnae Relations. “Later, she became our official Keeper of Traditions and for many she personified Chatham Hall and the values it embraces.”

LaDuke served Chatham Hall for 34 years, including as athletic director from 1996-2015. She was instrumental in the founding of the Blue Ridge Conference (BRC) where she served in a number of roles, including webmaster, treasurer, and vice president. During her time at Chatham Hall, she coached several sports, including field hockey and lacrosse for which she served many years on their respective VISAA committees. In 2004, LaDuke was selected by the VIAAA as Athletic Director of the Year for Independent Schools, and was honored posthumously in 2021 with the VIAAA Distinguished Service Award.

As noted on its website, VISAA provides accredited member schools with the resources and competitive environment in support of education-based athletic programs that establish a foundation for excellence founded on integrity, sportsmanship, and leadership.

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