1915
Josephine
2011
Josephine F. Madden
April 19, 1915 — November 19, 2011
Josephine "Jo" Warren Madden, of Stoneham, formerly of Somerville, a sprinter on the United States 1936 Olympic Team that competed in Berlin, Germany at the so-called "Hitler Olympics", died early on Saturday, November 19, at the age of 96.
After successfully competing at the Olympic Trials at Brown University to make the team, Jo Warren, a 1932 graduate of Somerville High School and an outstanding swimming and basketball star during her four years at the school, was supported by the citizens of Somerville who raised the funds needed to send her to Germany.
A female athlete in the days when a woman's participation in sports was frowned upon, Jo was a New England 50 yard and 100 yard sprint champion and was second in both the 100 yard and 200 yard dashes in the 1938 AAU Nationals. Legendary Boston area track & field coach, Al Hart, aided Jo by not only coaching her but also providing her with access to Boston area tracks then closed to women. Upon returning home from the Olympics, Jo founded the Red Diamond Track & Field Club, the first in the Boston area for young women. In 2007, at a ceremony at the Reggie Lewis Track in Roxbury, Jo was inducted into the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Athlete Hall of Fame.
Jo counted among her life-long friends fellow Olympians Jesse Owens, multiple-event world record holder and winner of four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics, and beloved Boston Marathon competitor (61 Boston Marathons and two-time winner --1935 and 1945), Johnny A. Kelley, "the Elder". There were times in Johnny's later marathons when he would stop to say "Hello" to Jo as she stood watching on the bridge over route 128. Jo was an active member of the New England Olympians Association for many years.
Jo was one of five daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence J. Warren of Somerville. She was married to the late Joseph F. Madden of Charlestown. Jo and Joe had four children -- Carol Gill of Woburn, Jean Marcy of Reading, Janet Ryan of Sparks, Nevada and Joe Madden of Reading.
Funeral from the Barile Family Funeral Home 482 Main St. (RT 28) STONEHAM Tuesday at 8am followed by a Funeral Mass celebrating Josephine's Eternal Life in St. Patrick Church 71 Central St. Stoneham at 9am. Family and friends are cordially invited to gather and share remembrances with the Family on Monday from 5-8pm in the Funeral Home. Interment Lindenwood Cemetery Stoneham.
In honor of Jo's memory, donations may be made to St. Patrick's Building Fund 9 Pomeworth St. Stoneham, MA 02180.
After successfully competing at the Olympic Trials at Brown University to make the team, Jo Warren, a 1932 graduate of Somerville High School and an outstanding swimming and basketball star during her four years at the school, was supported by the citizens of Somerville who raised the funds needed to send her to Germany.
A female athlete in the days when a woman's participation in sports was frowned upon, Jo was a New England 50 yard and 100 yard sprint champion and was second in both the 100 yard and 200 yard dashes in the 1938 AAU Nationals. Legendary Boston area track & field coach, Al Hart, aided Jo by not only coaching her but also providing her with access to Boston area tracks then closed to women. Upon returning home from the Olympics, Jo founded the Red Diamond Track & Field Club, the first in the Boston area for young women. In 2007, at a ceremony at the Reggie Lewis Track in Roxbury, Jo was inducted into the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Athlete Hall of Fame.
Jo counted among her life-long friends fellow Olympians Jesse Owens, multiple-event world record holder and winner of four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics, and beloved Boston Marathon competitor (61 Boston Marathons and two-time winner --1935 and 1945), Johnny A. Kelley, "the Elder". There were times in Johnny's later marathons when he would stop to say "Hello" to Jo as she stood watching on the bridge over route 128. Jo was an active member of the New England Olympians Association for many years.
Jo was one of five daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence J. Warren of Somerville. She was married to the late Joseph F. Madden of Charlestown. Jo and Joe had four children -- Carol Gill of Woburn, Jean Marcy of Reading, Janet Ryan of Sparks, Nevada and Joe Madden of Reading.
Funeral from the Barile Family Funeral Home 482 Main St. (RT 28) STONEHAM Tuesday at 8am followed by a Funeral Mass celebrating Josephine's Eternal Life in St. Patrick Church 71 Central St. Stoneham at 9am. Family and friends are cordially invited to gather and share remembrances with the Family on Monday from 5-8pm in the Funeral Home. Interment Lindenwood Cemetery Stoneham.
In honor of Jo's memory, donations may be made to St. Patrick's Building Fund 9 Pomeworth St. Stoneham, MA 02180.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Josephine F. Madden, please visit our flower store.
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