She was a behind-the-scenes leader at Brock University. Not the face of any particular team, but she was the glue that kept them all together. For 39 years, Marilou Iusi was an integral part of the Athletics Department, helping to keep things organized for varsity athletes and coaches.

On Wednesday night at the Ontario University Athletics awards ceremony, Iusi’s son Eddie accepted the J.P. Loosemore Award for his mother, who passed away in January at the age of 63 after battling an illness. The Loosemore Award is presented annually to someone who has made a major contribution through their administrative work within university sport.

“I’m very proud of her,” Eddie Iusi said after the event. “I’m astounded by how much she accomplished at work. I wish she could have been here to accept the award.”

He said his mother treated the people she worked with as a second family.

“She loved the job and she loved the people,” he said.

Brock Assistant Athletic Director Chris Critelli said “It’s very fitting that Marilou gets this award because she was so dedicated to Brock and our student athletes.”

Critelli said Iusi handled administrative assistant duties for the athletic directors of the day, but also took care of booking travel for varsity teams, working on player eligibility, tracking scholarships and monitoring budgets.

“She kept us on track for many, many years,” Critelli said.

Iusi started her career in 1976 and among the athletic directors she worked for were three Loosemore Award recipients — Arnie Lowenberger, Bob Davis and Lorne Adams. Iusi was the longest-serving Athletics and Recreation employee and among the longest-serving Brock employees.

“Marilou would be flattered about getting this, but she also would be very honoured to think the OUA and directors recognized someone in her position. I think we have to do more of that in the OUA because there are many people behind the scenes who are working just as hard as we are for the students,” Critelli said.