Springfield, Mass. – May 9, 2025 – Springfield College has learned alumna and Olympian Kathy Corrigan Ekas '66 passed away on May 2, 2025. Corrigan Ekas, who was 80 years old, was a 1966 graduate of Springfield College and became the first woman to be inducted into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987.

"In our long and storied history in the sport of gymnastics, Kathy stood alone. Springfield College Athletics mourns the loss of a most influential member in the world of women's gymnastics" said Springfield College Director of Athletics, Craig Poisson.

During her time on Alden Street, Corrigan Ekas was a two-time New England Intercollegiate All-Around champion and served as captain of the Springfield College women's gymnastics team. Not only was Corrigan Ekas a standout student-athlete at Springfield College, but she collected four medals at the 1963 Pan American Games in Sao Paolo, Brazil and was selected to be a member of the 1964 Olympic Women's Gymnastics Team in Tokyo, Japan.

At the Pan American Games, Corrigan Ekas took home team gold, all-around silver and bronze on both floor exercise and vault. 

Following her graduation from Springfield College, Corrigan Ekas pursued a master's in physical education at Penn State University where she spent two years as a coach for the women's gymnastics team. Corrigan Ekas also held coaching roles at Weymouth High School and Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts. Later on, she opened the Kathy Corrigan School of Gymnastics in Rockland, Massachusetts.

Corrigan Ekas became the first woman ever inducted into Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 1987 and in 1992 was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame.