Mary Beth Spirk

Mary Beth Spirk, 66, of Lower Saucon Twp. died peacefully at her home surrounded by loved ones on Friday April 10, 2026. She was born on September 25, 1959, to the late Bernard R., Sr. and Sylvia J. (Iasiello) Spirk.

Mary Beth was a 1977 graduate of Notre Dame of Green Pond High School and a 1981 graduate of Dickinson College. She received her Master's Degree in Sport Management in 2002 from the United States Sports Academy. Mary Beth spent the last 45 years touching the lives of thousands of students at Moravian University and was set to retire on May 1st. She started her career at Moravian as an assistant women's basketball coach in October of 1981 then Head Coach in 1987. The winningest coach in Moravian history. She was an associate professor at the University. She has also been the Director of Athletics & Recreation since 2017. She was the Head Softball coach at Moravian from 1988 to 1993 with a record of 104-57.

Her record as Head Basketball coach of 659-360 ranks her in the top 10 in the nation in victories among active Division III coaches. Her team's accomplishments include seven Middle Atlantic Southeast and three Middle Atlantic South Championships, two Middle Atlantic Conference crowns, nine NCAA bids, three "Sweet 16" appearances, an ECAC Championship and a Landmark Conference Championship. She has coached 24 1,000-point scorers, 15 All-Americans, countless All-Conference performers, and a National Player of the Year.

Mary Beth's team made the NCAA DIII Final Four and Championship game finishing the season as the National Runner-up, the most successful season Moravian has ever experienced. She received the Women's Basketball Coaches Association National Coach of the Year award, as well as MAC and Mid-Atlantic Region honors. She was a ten-time Conference Coach of the Year and an ECAC Division III Metro Coach of the Year. Mary Beth served on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Board of Directors. Her team is cited in the National Basketball Hall of Fame when they set the NCAA consecutive free throw record for men and women, all divisions and was featured in Sports Illustrated.

As a young adult, Mary Beth was the scrum-half of the Molly Maguire's rugby team. She was then recruited to play on the USA Atlantis Sevens team that played in Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain. She then served as an Atlantis player-coach. Ultimately, serving 11 tours from 1992 - 2010 in both capacities.

Though her professional successes are unparalleled, nothing was more important to Mary Beth than her family. She loved being part of a big family; she was the fifth of eight. She especially loved her nieces, nephews, as well as grandnieces & grandnephews, attending countless church, school and sporting events.

Mary Beth is survived by her longtime companion Margaret M. McMenamin; siblings - Bernard, Jr., Michael (Susan), Janice, Patricia (John), David (Ann), Francis, Robert (Alicia); sisters-in-law - Brigid (Stephen), Catherine (Ronald), Anna Regina; nieces and nephews - Bernard, III, Jenna (Anthony), Emily (Joseph), Meredith (Patrick), Matthew (Christine), Kelly (Michael), Katie (Todd), Isabelle, Sarah (Derrick), Ian (Nancy), Grace, Jill, Thomas, Steven, Amelia, Meghan (Michael), Allison, Lindsey (Robert), Robert, Hugo, Robert, Leith, AmyJean; grand nieces and nephews - Madison, Benjamin, Vienna, Charlotte, Harper, Lincoln, Lillian, Mila, Cole, Miranda, Delaney, Sylvie, Beverly, Cecelia, Henrietta, Olivia, William, Nora, Paige, Collin, Addison, Sadie, John, Layla, Halley, Nathan, Luke, Gianna, Summer, Ember.

She was pre-deceased by her parents; sisters-in-law - Marsha and Patricia; brothers-in-law - Stephen (Christina) and Peter.

Mary Beth grew up as a member of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Bethlehem Twp. and is now a member of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Mary Beth at Saint Theresa, 1408 Easton Road, Hellertown on Friday, April 17 at 10:30am. A viewing will be held at Steel Club 700 Linden Ave., Hellertown on Thursday April 16, 2026, from noon to 3 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m. A private interment will follow at a later date at the convenience of the family. 

For 18 years Mary Beth's teams have led the nation in fundraising for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Mary Beth's memory to this fund at www.kayyow.com. Her arrangements are entrusted to Connell Funeral Home.

Condolences may be offered online at www.connellfuneral.com.