Moravian University Mourns Athletic Director Mary Beth Spirk
Spirk served Moravian University for nearly five decades as a coach, professor and athletic director and led fundraising efforts that raised more than $281,000 for Play4Kay.
Longtime Director of Athletics and Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Mary Beth Spirk, died on Friday, April 10.
Spirk was more than a colleague; she was an icon, said Moravian University President Bryon Grigsby ’90 P’22, P’26, P’29 in an email to the campus community on Friday afternoon. After arriving on campus in 1981, Spirk dedicated nearly five decades to Moravian, serving as a coach, professor, and administrator.
Her impact on Moravian is immeasurable, Grigsby says.
“Coach Spirk didn’t just coach basketball; she shaped the soul of Moravian athletics for nearly five decades,” Grigsby wrote. “I knew her first as a coach when I was a student-athlete here, and over the years, she became a dear friend—someone whose fierce devotion to her players and to this place inspired everyone around her.”
One of Spirk’s most enduring legacies was her devotion to the Play4Kay initiative. Under her guidance, Moravian University raised more than $281,000 for the organization. Donations may be made in her memory at the Play4Kay website.
For more information on Spirk’s legendary career, visit the Greyhounds Athletics site.
Services
A viewing for Spirk will be held from noon to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Steel Club, 700 Linden Ave., Hellertown, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026 at Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, 1408 Easton Road, Hellertown, PA. More information can be found in Spirk’s obituary.
In the coming weeks, Grigsby says details will be shared for an on-campus celebration of life.
Support
The following resources are available for those in need of support.
Students
- Confidential grief support is available through the chaplain’s office. Email Chaplain Charlie McDonald at [email protected] or [email protected].
- You can schedule an appointment at the Counseling and Psychological Services office (CAPS) by emailing [email protected], calling 610-861-1510, or using this link for the online form.
- If you are worried about a friend or classmate for any reason, you can submit a SHARE (Support, Help, and Referral) report by using this link.
- You can schedule an appointment at the Health Center by calling 610-861-1583.
Employees
- Our University Chaplain is a confidential resource for employees. Email [email protected] to schedule an appointment.
- The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential support
- The Employee SHARE Team
- Talking to a member of the HR team
- Employee Resource Groups