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Tiny (Elvira M.) Vidano, died peacefully on March 20, 2008, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, her home for 60 years. She was born July 28, 1920, the only child of Bernard Vidano of Joliet, Illinois and Erminia Ballotti of Sestola, Italy who predeceased her. Tiny, as she was known, obtained an undergraduate degree from Illinois State University and a Master's from the University of Michigan. She began her teaching career in 1942 teaching math and boys/girls physical education to 6th through 8th grades while obtaining her Master's Degree. She was the only woman coach out of 19 teams for the County tournaments! One of her most enjoyable years was teaching Phys. Ed. at the Illinois Soldier's & Sailor's Children's School in Normal, IL, Grades 1-8 where she also served as the critic teach for Illinois State University. It was 1948 when she came to New Mexico to serve as the Albuquerque Girl Scout Camp Director at the Jemez Mountain campgrounds and began teaching at Highland High School. She taught there until her retirement in 1980. She was instrumental in promoting and forming women's athletic organizations and tournaments in New Mexico such as the Girl's Athletic Association. Not accepting the theory of girl's athletics as secondary to boy's athletics or the lack of funding for them, she conducted a big City service project each year which earned all the money spent for travel and hosting Sports Days and events for womens athletics! She traveled all over the State to participate in these events in Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, Badminton, Table Tennis, Tennis, and Speed-A-Way. She also instituted Field Hockey competition in the City and State (Only Roswell and Santa Fe outside of Albuquerque). From 1955-57 her female students never lost a game in ANY SPORT ALL THREE YEARS! From 1961-67 her softball team never finished lower than 3rd in the State Meets and they won every year they participated retiring with a 1st place trophy and four consecutive titles. Her teams were undefeated in Hockey (from 1973-1978), Field Hockey (from 1974-75), and the Basketball team only lost one game (1974-75)! In 1960-61 she was awarded the Order of the Torch from the Highland High School Student Council for Leadership in Guidance & Scholarship. In 1967, The New Mexico Association for Health, Physical Education & Recreation awarded her the Honor Award in recognition of the meritorious Service of Professor. She received the New Mexico International Women's Year Award in 1977 for outstanding contributions to the advancement of women in Athletics in the State of New Mexico. In 1979, she was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Illinois State University. She was an outstanding member of the Albuquerque Public School Physical Education Committee (1988) as well as the Albuquerque Association of Educational Retirees (1991) and was saluted as the Outstanding Retiree of the Albuquerque Public School system (1992). Until recently, she was a volunteer docent for school tours and home scholar tours at the Telephone Museum of New Mexico. Over one million-plus students and many dear friends revisit her from time to time and correspond regularly which stands as a testament to her caring and sharing attitude always bringing out the best in all who met her or who were taught by her. She will be missed by many friends, students, and colleagues. Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, March 27, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 5311 Phoenix NE. Friends may visit on Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at French Mortuary, Wyoming Blvd. Chapel from 4 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Internment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery in Romeoville, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Telephone Museum of New Mexico, PO Box 1892, Albuquerque, 87103, or a charity of your choice in her name. French Mortuary, Inc. 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400 www.frenchmortuary.com
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