GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The University of North Dakota mourns the unexpected loss of Kathleen "Tootsie" Gasparini.
"We are truly saddened today regarding the passing of Kathleen "Tootsie" Gasparini," said UND head hockey coach
Brad Berry. "Kathleen greatly impacted the lives of many people in Grand Forks and the state of North Dakota. The North Dakota Hockey family wants to express our deep gratitude and convey our thoughts and prayers to Gino Gasparini and his family at this time."
She was the wife of longtime North Dakota hockey head coach Gino Gasparini, who coached at his alma mater from 1978-1994, led North Dakota to three national championships in the 1980s (1980, 1982, 1987) along with a runner-up finish in 1979 and a third-place finish in 1984. He is the winningest coach in program history.
Affectionately known as "Tootsie" across the state of North Dakota, she spent over 40 years as a health teacher in Grand Forks Public Schools and could always be found at UND events cheering on every athletic program.
In honor of Coach Gasparini and Tootsie's legacies, several former student-athletes established an endowment in their names to support current student-athletes on the hockey program.
