SCHRODT, Phyllis Barbara (Bim)

January 21, 1929 - June 23, 2020

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sister and Aunt. Predeceased by Parents Phillip Joseph Schrodt and Claire Emily Schrodt (Blaney), and Sister Ellen Claire Schrodt. Survived by her brother Peter and her nephews Charles and Patrick.

Bim was Vancouver born and raised and very proud of her city.

Bim’s life revolved around Physical Education and, more specifically, Women’s Field Hockey and Sports History. Teacher at Magee Secondary and then onto UBC, where she spent her entire career, with breaks to attend the University of Oregon and University of Alberta, where she ultimately obtained her Ph.D. to become Dr. Schrodt, and then became a Professor at UBC. It was in 1957/58, that "Bim" would begin to lay the foundation for the development of the women’s athletic program at UBC. For the next six years, she served as UBC Women’s Athletic Director, helping develop opportunities for women and moving the program toward what it is today. Bim led the "Blue and Gold to 6 Canadian West championships in the 8 years in which UBC competed in the Western Canadian league.

Bim was passionate about field hockey. Her teams were her family. She ran clinics for coaches and umpires, which resulted in the game of field hockey along with its coaching techniques taking hold throughout the province, particularly at the school level. She established the BC Women’s Field Hockey Federation in 1966, drafting its constitution. She developed a handbook of regulations and procedures for which the national level modeled. She was the president of the Vancouver Women’s Field Hockey Association and founding director of the Canadian Women’s Field Hockey Association. Bim launched the first publication on Women’s Field Hockey, "Field Hockey for Women" and edited the Canadian Women’s Field Hockey Rules and Umpiring Guide. She coached the gold medal BC Team at the 1973 Canada Games and Umpired at four consecutive world championships. Dr. Schrodt was chair for the Vancouver Centennial Celebration of Women’s Field Hockey in 1996. Schrodt is the only Canadian to hold honorary membership at three levels of administration - local, provincial, and national - the highest honour attainable. She also holds the Canadian Association’s Honorary Umpire Award, the BC Federation’s Gold Honour Pin, and is the namesake for both the BC and Vancouver’s perpetual Award.

Her devotion to Women’s Field Hockey across Canada, whether locally, Provincially or Nationally earned her the respect of the many players, coaches, managers and associations in this sport. During her 37 years of teaching at UBC, Bim also served as an athletic historian, the area in which she received her Doctorate. Over the course of 41 years with the Blue and Gold as a player, coach, administrator and teacher, it has been the game of field hockey that was Bim’s passion.

Bim was writing a "complete sports history of BC," a massive endeavor, by any standards. Research was completed up to a few years ago and the first few chapters were written when time ran out. The entire work now rests with BC Sports Hall of Fame for potential completion. At some time in the future, we may once again hear from Bim. Inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1999 and the UBC Hall of Fame in 2000. From the late 1930s - 1964, Bim also enjoyed the fun and sun at the then mainly "get-away" or vacation community of Beach Grove. You had to take a ferry in those days.

Due to the Summer breaks of UBC, Bim was an avid world traveler, making many trips to most of the Continents of the globe. Her shelves were overflowing with photo albums. Of course, she travelled to Greece a number of times, as this was the home of the Olympics.

She most certainly led a full and exciting life. We will miss our Sister and Aunt, as will very many others.

Due to the times we are currently in, a "celebration of life" will have to wait until a time when we can all safely gather together to remember Bim and "raise those crossed hockey sticks high in the air."

Our thanks to the caring and supportive staff at Peace Portal Seniors Lodge for their understanding and thoughtful care of Bim over the past couple of years.

Donations to: BC Sports hall of Fame to aid in the completion of the book sports, info@bcsportshalloffame.com; Alzheimer Society of British Columbia https://alzheirmer.ca/en/bc/get-involved/ways-to-donate.