Frisbie family endows head coach for men’s lacrosse

Richard D. Frisbie ’71, J.D. ’74, a former All-Ivy Harvard lacrosse midfielder who captained the Crimson his senior year, is leading his team once again with the announcement of the Frisbie Family Endowed Coach for Men’s Lacrosse. Frisbie’s gift will endow the head coaching position and also help support the annual operation of the nationally recognized men’s lacrosse program.

The news comes only weeks after the announcement of the first two women’s head coaching endowments in Harvard history. RoAnn Costin ’74, a former All-America swimmer and rower for the Crimson, established the Costin Family Endowed Coach for Women’s Swimming and Diving. The gift is in memory of her mother, Rosemary Cole Costin, and in honor of her sister, Maura Costin Scalise ’80. Scalise was an All-America swimmer and former Harvard women’s swimming and diving head coach. On the heels of Costin’s gift, C. Kevin Landry ’66, his wife Barrie, and their daughters Kimberly GwinnLandry ’93 and Jennifer Landry Le ’99 created the Landry Family Head Coach for Harvard Women’s Ice Hockey.

Robert L. Scalise, Nichols Family Director of Athletics (and men’s lacrosse head coach for more than a decade), said of the Frisbie gift, “Rick and his wife Lisa have been dedicated supporters of Harvard athletics for many years. They recognize that these programs add value to the College experience and benefit student-athletes throughout their lives.”

“I am constantly reminded that the dedication and commitment to excellence of our student-athletes are matched by the loyalty and support of our alumni and friends,” Scalise said. “The University is grateful to Rick and Lisa, and to all of our donors for their extraordinary generosity.”

Frisbie hopes that his gift will influence the lives of many generations of Harvard lacrosse players. “Harvard has meant a lot to me,” he explained. “I made some of my best friends there and I had some great experiences, including playing lacrosse and football. Harvard has helped me attain some of the accomplishments in my life; I wanted to give back in a way that was meaningful to me, and athletics was an important part of my Harvard experience.”

Frisbie is no stranger to Harvard athletics. He was a three-year starter in lacrosse (1969–71) and football (1968–70) during an era when freshmen were not eligible to play on the varsity squads. As a senior captain, Frisbie helped lead his lacrosse team to its best record in seven years. On the gridiron, he was a talented cornerback, “one of the best players in the league … as tough as they come,” according to his backfield coach. He earned first-team All-Ivy League honors in both sports. Years later, his daughter Lizzy ’02 also played for the Crimson, as a midfielder on the women’s lacrosse team. Today, Frisbie remains an active alumnus, serving as a member of Harvard’s Visiting Committee for Athletics and co-chairing the Class of 1971’s Gift Committee.

John Tillman, Harvard’s first Frisbie Family Endowed Coach for Men’s Lacrosse, said, “This significant gift illustrates an extraordinary level of alumni interest and commitment, as evidenced by Rick Frisbie’s leadership.”

For RoAnn Costin, her gift is a tribute to the people who influenced her life so profoundly — led by her mother Rosemary. “She was a nurturer and educator who encouraged and inspired her children to excel in academics and athletics,” Costin recalled. “Because of her guidance, my sister Maura and I were fortunate to have choices at a time when opportunities for women were limited.”

Costin noted that Alice McCabe, Harvard-Radcliffe’s remarkable women’s swimming coach at the time, saw to it that Costin pursued her athletic and academic interests at the highest levels. “I’m thrilled to now be in a position to give back, and I encourage other women and men who have benefited from their Harvard experience to ensure that future generations have similar opportunities.”

Kevin Landry’s gift to the women’s ice hockey program is the culmination of his family’s love affair with the game. An avid fan during his undergraduate years, he continued to follow Harvard hockey after graduating; years later, both of his daughters played for the Crimson, with Kimberly being named co-captain. “My wife and I both enjoy the game, and we loved watching our daughters play,” he said. “This gift honors the long and great tradition of varsity sports at Harvard, and we hope that it will influence the lives of many generations of Harvard hockey’s talented athletes.”

Landry marvels at the advances in the women’s ice hockey program over the years, and the impact of the team’s success within the community. “We’ve reached a point where we now expect the team to be ranked at the top nationally and win it all. And to see the faces of the girls and boys in the stands, you can’t help noticing their amazement at what these young women can do.”