Passing the Torch

Celebrating Pam Couture’s Two Decades of Leadership with the Androscoggin River Athletes

September 23, 2026

For more than 20 years, Pam Couture has been a constant presence in Special Olympics New Hampshire.

Coach. Volunteer. Fundraiser. Penguin Plunger. Area Games organizer. Local Program Coordinator.

Most importantly, she has been a devoted advocate for athletes.

This fall, Pam is stepping away from her role as Local Program Coordinator of the Androscoggin River Athletes (ARA), passing the torch to longtime volunteer and athlete parent Kelly Croteau. While a new chapter begins for the program, Pam’s impact on athletes, families, coaches, volunteers, and the North Country community will continue to be felt for years to come.

A Heart for Athletes

Pam’s journey with Special Olympics began not with sports, but with a lifelong passion for supporting people with intellectual disabilities.

“Even as a child in elementary school, I had a place in my heart for those who had the type of challenges our athletes face,” Pam shared.

After earning a degree in special education and spending 34 years as a Special Education teacher, Pam moved to New Hampshire and became involved with Special Olympics as a volunteer with a team known as the Junior Bears.

A few years later, when the coordinator of the area’s adult team moved away, the two programs were combined. Pam stepped forward to lead the newly formed Androscoggin River Athletes, beginning a journey that would span more than two decades.

Building Something Special

In the early years, Pam wore nearly every hat imaginable.

“I took on most of the responsibilities myself, coordinator, coach, fundraiser, and more,” she said.

Over time, additional volunteers stepped in, the program grew, and Pam continued learning and adapting along the way. What started as a small effort evolved into a thriving local program that offers athletes year-round sports, social opportunities, and a strong sense of community.

What kept her coming back year after year?

“I just love our athletes. You can’t come away from an event without feeling the love and happiness of the athletes. There is nothing else like it.”

While the work could be challenging at times, Pam says the joy far outweighed the challenges.

“I can’t imagine not being involved in Special Olympics in some capacity while I’m still able to contribute.”

More Than One Role

While many know Pam as the leader of the Androscoggin River Athletes, her impact has extended far beyond the local program.

She has coordinated the Great North Woods Area Summer Games, supported the State Bowling Tournament in Berlin, helped organize a team of volunteers to alter uniforms for Team New Hampshire athletes competing at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, and attended multiple USA Games as a volunteer supporting the New Hampshire delegation.

For several years, organizing the Great North Woods Summer Games became a particularly meaningful experience.

For Pam, the Great North Woods Summer Games were about more than competition. The event brought together volunteers, athletes, families, and community members, creating opportunities for people to witness firsthand the talent, determination, and spirit of Special Olympics athletes and helping build lasting support for inclusion across the North Country.

She and her husband, Ray, have also been familiar faces at the Penguin Plunge. Over 25 years, Pam has raised more than $17,000 to support Special Olympics athletes while taking the icy plunge year after year.

“It was like a little mid-winter getaway for a great cause,” she said.

A Team Effort

When asked what she is most proud of, Pam doesn’t point to a single event or accomplishment.

Instead, she points to the team around her.

One of Pam’s proudest accomplishments was helping establish a leadership team in 2022. By sharing responsibilities and bringing more volunteers into the program’s leadership, the team expanded its coaching, fundraising, and social opportunities, creating a stronger experience for athletes and families alike.

“Our coaching, fundraising, and social activities took off,” she said. “It developed into something I am very proud of.”

That collaborative spirit is also what gives her confidence as she hands leadership of the program to Kelly Croteau.

An athlete parent and dedicated volunteer, Kelly has been an active member of the leadership team since its creation and has already demonstrated the passion and skills needed to guide the program into the future.

“I know when I started as coordinator, I learned a lot through trial and error,” Pam said. “I’m hoping to be able to guide Kelly while at the same time respecting her ideas as coordinator.”

Looking back on more than two decades in the role, Pam says a few lessons helped her along the way: don’t sweat the small stuff, listen thoughtfully to athletes, families, coaches, and volunteers, allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from them, and never lose your sense of humor.

A Lasting Legacy

For those who have worked alongside Pam, her impact is impossible to measure.

Longtime SONH volunteer Karen Turgeon described Pam as someone who “worked tirelessly and always had the best interests of the athletes at heart.”

“She loved to see the athletes succeed and provided what they needed to be successful,” Karen shared. “Pam is a very special person who goes above and beyond with everything she does.”

When asked what she hopes her legacy will be, Pam’s answer was characteristically modest.

“I hope I’m remembered as a person who truly cared for our athletes and kept our team active as best I could.”

Anyone who has seen the growth of the Androscoggin River Athletes over the past two decades knows she accomplished far more than that.

Through thousands of volunteer hours, countless competitions, fundraising efforts, community events, and moments of encouragement, Pam helped create opportunities for athletes to compete, connect, grow, and thrive.

And while she may be stepping away from the coordinator role, she’s not saying goodbye.

“I’m not ready to leave my beloved athletes, coaches, and families yet,” she said. “I plan to stay on as a member of our leadership team, volunteer where I may be needed, and offer advice from my years of experience.”

For the athletes, families, volunteers, and communities whose lives have been touched by her dedication, that’s very good news.

Thank you, Pam, for more than two decades of leadership, service, and unwavering commitment to Special Olympics New Hampshire athletes.