White River Jct., VT - Jo Ann Harper, 81, died on Sunday, June 16, 2024, in White River Junction, VT.

Josie was born March 25, 1943, to the late Thomas and Mildred (Fromal) Salusto in Media, PA. She grew up and attended school in Media and excelled in athletics including field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse. She attended West Chester University where she received her bachelor's and master's degrees in education and played on the lacrosse team for four years.

She began teaching at Swarthmore High School in 1965 where she also began her career in coaching. She later coached field hockey, basketball and lacrosse at Penncrest High School in Media, PA from 1966 until 1980 when she moved to the collegiate level, coaching lacrosse at Hollins College in Roanoke, VA. Josie joined the Dartmouth athletics staff in 1981 when she was hired as the women's lacrosse head coach, coaching from 1981-1992. Over the course of her 11 seasons at Dartmouth she had a record of 88-69 and 37-28 in the Ivy League. She led the team to the NCAA tournament in 1983, to its first Ivy League Championship in 1986 and again in 1987, and the ECAC Championship in 1988. Harper also served as assistant coach of the US Women's National Team from 1979 until 1987 including the 1981 US Touring team in Australia and the 1982 team that won the World Championship in England. She also served as the head coach of the 1986 World Cup Team and the first US Women's Under 21 team that toured Scotland, England, and Wales in 1987.

Harper was an award-winning and nationally recognized figure. After coaching, Jo Ann moved into athletic administration at Dartmouth. She was named National Association of College Women Athletic Administrators Division I-AA administrator of the year in 2000 and the ECAC Female Athletic Administrator of the Year in 2001. In 2005 she was the recipient of the Katherine Ley Award from the ECAC in recognition of her leadership and advocacy for women coaches and administrators. Harper was named Director of Athletics and Recreation at Dartmouth in 2002, the first time a woman earned such a high-ranking position in the history of the Ivy League.

In 2020 it was announced the women's lacrosse head coach at Dartmouth would be endowed in Josie Harper's name. The two anonymous donors were former players. Some of her many other accolades include induction into the US Lacrosse New England Hall of Fame in 2000, The Pennsylvania Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2002, the West Chester University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004 and the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2006.

Josie was predeceased by the following: Her parents Thomas & Mildred Salusto, her lifetime partner Michelle Meyers, her sister Connie O'Neill, and a niece Karen Fisher (Larry).

She leaves her niece Christine Record (David) and nephew Thomas O'Neill (Josie); grandnieces and nephews Geneva Record, TJ O'Neill (Ashleigh), Douglas O'Neill (Emily), Jesse O'Neill, and Stephen Record (Madeline); great grandniece and nephews Raelynn Record, James O'Neill, Thomas O'Neill III, Beau O'Neill, Maxwell O'Neill, and Finley O'Neill; The Meyers Family: Marietta, Michael and Deborah, Anna and Ben.

Details regarding a service later this year will be announced. Memorial donations to The Prouty are appreciated. Donations may be made online or by mail: make checks payable to DH-H/The Prouty and mail to Medical & Healthcare Advancement, Attn: Gift Recording, One Medical Center Drive (HB 7070), Lebanon, NH 03756.

Knight Funeral Home of White River Junction has been entrusted with arrangements and condolences to Josie's family may be made in an online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com