Stratford Brakette Softball Legend Joan Joyce Dies At 81

STRATFORD, CT — The softball community and beyond is mourning the loss of Stratford Brakette legend Joan Joyce, who died Saturday night at the age of 81.

Florida Atlantic University announced Joyce’s death in a post on its website. Joyce was FAU’s softball coach, where she recently celebrated her 1,000th collegiate softball victory, and was also the school’s former women’s golf coach.

“This is a terribly sad loss for the FAU family,” FAU President John Kelly said. “Joan was a true sports legend, and we are grateful for the 28 years she spent here, modeling the best in personal and professional behavior for our student-athletes. Joan's legacy will live on at the university and across the country through the generations of young women she inspired to play – and excel at – softball and golf."

Joyce was in her 28th season as FAU's head coach and is the only coach the program has known. Her tenure as head women's golf coach for the Owls spanned 18 years (1996-2014).

"We are very saddened to learn of Coach Joyce's passing," FAU Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White said. "Joan was one of the pillars that FAU Athletics was built upon. She was a legend in many ways and leaves a legacy at FAU and beyond that is unmatched. We are forever grateful for her nearly three decades of service to FAU and her student-athletes."

Joyce had a career 1,002-674-1 record as head softball coach while at FAU. She guided FAU to 11 conference championships, 11 NCAA postseason tournaments and was recognized as conference Coach of the Year eight times, according to a news release.

Joyce, a Waterbury native, played 17 seasons with the Brakettes and compiled a 429-27 record and struck out 5,677 batters in 3,397 innings, according to the Brakettes’ website. Joyce had 105 no-hitters and 33 perfect games with the Brakettes. She also had a .327 career batting average and led the team in hitting six times, including a career high .406 in 1973.

Joyce, who was inducted into 20 halls of fame, is remembered by many for striking out Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Ted Williams in August 1961, before 17,000 fans at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury for a local fundraiser, according to the Brakettes’ website.

“In my opinion, Joan Joyce was the greatest female athlete of all time,” Brakettes General Manager Bob Baird said in a statement on the website. “For all her athletic accomplishments and notoriety, Joan was an even greater person.”

Read more at the Brakettes’ website here and on Facebook here.