Penelope "Penny" Childs Hinckley

Penelope Childs Hinckley passed away peacefully in Spartanburg, SC, on April 18, 2025, surrounded by her sisters, Midge (Hinckley) Smith, Laurie (Hinckley) Towers, and Mary Anne Hinckley.  Penny was born in Kansas City, MO, on September 16, 1943, to George Lyman and Mary Louise (Buck) Hinckley.  She grew up in Melrose, Massachusetts, and spent her summers in Southwest Harbor, Maine.  She attended Sargent College, graduating with a BA in Physical Education, and went on to work at high schools in Baltimore, MD, and Tacoma, WA.  She continued her education at the University of Connecticut with a master’s degree in counseling.  In 1970, Penny began her career in college athletics at Princeton University, where she was instrumental in implementing Title IX.  At Princeton, she was Coordinator of Women’s Sports and coach of basketball, field hockey, and lacrosse.  In 1978, Penny accepted a position at Haverford College as Senior Women’s Administrator and Associate Director of Athletics.  She also coached Field Hockey and Lacrosse and received the Cary Award for Outstanding Dedication and Achievement in Women’s Athletics.  She retired from Haverford in 2006. Penny never gave up coaching, continuing to encourage and support young women to strive for success until the end of her life.

Everyone who met Penny soon learned of her deep love of boating and animals. She was never without her pets.

Penny is survived by her three sisters, several nieces and nephews, and their children.  A family service will be held in Southwest Harbor, ME later.  In lieu of flowers a contribution in her memory may be made to your local animal shelter/humane society

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