UPEI mourns passing of Panther great Tracy Ellsworth
The UPEI community was saddened to learn of the passing of Panther great and UPEI Sports Hall of Fame member Tracy Ellsworth on June 21, 2024.
Competitor, fearless, respected, champion—these are just a few words that describe the type of person Tracy was as a Panther and community member at large. During Tracy’s five years at UPEI, she completed her Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts, while distinguishing herself as an All-Conference player in both field hockey and basketball.
In 2003, she was inducted into the UPEI Hall of Fame after a stellar career that saw her excel on the field hockey pitch and basketball court in the mid-1980s.
Everything came together for Tracy in her final two years at UPEI, as she dominated the sports scene.
In 1986–87, she was named an All-Conference Player in field hockey and basketball and was part of UPEI’s first-ever AUS Women’s Basketball championship. Her solid performance in both sports led to her being named UPEI’s Outstanding Female Athlete for the first time and Sport PEI’s All-Round Female Athlete for the second year in a row.
In 1987–88, she picked up her fifth straight field hockey and second consecutive basketball All-Conference awards. She also helped her basketball team capture its second straight AUS title.
From 1993 to 2004, Tracy inspired the next generation of women’s basketball players as UPEI’s head coach. She was named the conference’s Coach of the Year in 1997 and, a year later, guided the Panthers to an AUS title.
Over the course of her life, Tracy continued to devote her life to sports by volunteering to coach various minor and provincial teams. She spread her love for teaching across various schools on the Island during her career as an educator with many lasting memories and friendships created over her life. She deeply cherished her most recent years as an administrator at West Kent Elementary School. Read the full obituary
UPEI and the Panther family extend sincere condolences to Tracy’s husband Paul and their children Alexander, Jenna Mae, and Jordan, as well as extended family and friends.
The 2024–2025 UPEI Women’s Basketball season will be played in memory of Tracy. Details will be announced at a later date. Also, the Tracy Ellsworth Memorial Women's Basketball Scholarship has been established at UPEI in her memory. Donations toward the scholarship can be made online at upei.ca/donate.
