Coupeville Sports

Marlene Grasser with her great niece, Mia. (Photos courtesy Ashley Heilig)

A sensational athlete and a better person.

Coupeville High School will pay tribute to Marlene Grasser during tonight’s basketball doubleheader.

The Wolves are scheduled to play Orcas Island, with the girls varsity game at 3:30, followed by the boys at 5.

Grasser, a two-time CHS Female Athlete of the Year and one of the most beloved, influential athletes to ever wear a Coupeville uniform, passed away this week after a two-year battle with cancer.

A 1987 grad, she was 46.

During her days as a Wolf, Grasser starred in volleyball, basketball, softball and track, then went on to play volleyball in college.

She was inducted into the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame in a class that included three of her contemporaries, Jennie (Cross) Prince, Aimee (Messner) Bishop and Sherry (Bonacci) Roberts, as well as brother-in-law Ron Bagby.

Grasser was that rarity, an athlete who influenced generations of other athletes in her home town, and will continue to do so.

A little taste of the vast outpouring of love which has been directed to her family:

Sherry (Bonacci) Roberts):

Marlene was my athletic role model. She was such an amazing and gifted athlete and one of the nicest people ever.

She always helped me and encouraged me to strive for excellence and become the best I could be.

Emily (Vracin) Kosderka:

Growing up, I admired Marlene SO MUCH–I wanted to be her.

I didn’t even really get to know her, but she was a stud female athlete and a great person — that was enough for me.

I’m so sorry to hear this news and my thoughts and prayers go out to all of her family and friends.

Joli (Smith) Bartell:

This breaks my heart. I think I was about in junior high when I started growing a huge love of playing sports thanks to a few people I watched and looked up to, including Marlene Grasser.

I am pretty sure she was my babysitter when I was little!

I will never forget that name when I think of the greats in CHS sports.

My thoughts and prayers to her friends and family.

Suzan Georges:

I will share this with my 10 year old who has played in the SWISH team for two years now.

Our condolences and prayers go out to all the family!

Her memory and words will live on through Coupeville’s future athletes.