A beloved alumna and softball and basketball player of The Bishop McDevitt High School, Doris Draving, lost her battle with cancer on August 1, 2025, in California.
She lost a brief but painful battle with stage 4 biliary tract, pancreatic, liver, and abdominal cancer on Friday.
Diagnosed only recently, she passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, as shared by her sister, Nancy.
Doris, a 1973 graduate from St. John of the Cross Parish in Roslyn, was a standout athlete at Bishop McDevitt High School in Wyncote, Pennsylvania.
Known for her skills on the softball field and basketball court, she was named McDevitt’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1972-73.
Her high school coach, Ms. Cecelia “Cissy” Coyne, called her the most naturally gifted athlete she had ever seen.
It was Doris’s grace and skill that earned her comparisons from the owner of the San Francisco Pioneers, the professional team she played for, to a gazelle.
In fact, her athletic achievements were remarkable and praiseworthy.
At East Stroudsburg University, Doris set a record by scoring 44 points in a single game against Queen’s College, then ranked second in the nation.
Above all, this record, set against a team featuring a 1976 U.S. Olympic player, still stands today. Notably, this was before three-point shots were part of the game, and many of Doris’ shots were from what would now be three-point range, making her performance even more impressive.
Doris played in an era when uniforms were simple jumpers that needed ironing and shoes were basic Chuck Taylor All Stars. She still shone as an athlete; however, the lack of modern sports gear led to three ankle surgeries.
After college, Doris played professionally in the Women’s Basketball League with the San Francisco Pioneers.
When the Women’s Basketball League ended, Doris went to Albuquerque Academy in New Mexico. There, she taught and coached at a school famous for winning state championships.
In 1995, Doris moved to Seminole, Florida, to care for her beloved mother, Marie, who passed away in September 2022 at nearly 101 years old.
There, she served as Athletic Director at Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, where she taught, coached, and inspired countless students.
Her legacy and contributions in sport were celebrated widely, and in 2018, she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
In 2022, Bishop McDevitt honored her with induction into its Athletic Hall of Fame.
Besides her athletic contributions, Doris was known for her warm and welcoming nature. Doris often said caring for her mother for 27 years was her most fulfilling role.
So far, the information about her funeral services has not been published by her family.
During this challenging period, we pray for the strength of Doris’ family and friends.
Rest Easy, Doris Draving!
