Gail Davidson Overbeck passed away on August 11, 2023 at home surrounded by her family after a five-year battle with ovarian cancer. Her fight against the disease was one of strength, courage, dignity and determination – the same qualities with which Gail lived her entire life and endeared her to all who knew her.
Gail Overbeck
Gail was a 65-year resident of New Canaan and left an indelible mark on the community. She and her family moved to New Canaan from Stony Brook, NY when she was 12-years old. Gail was an active member of the New Canaan High School Class of 1963 where she participated in the Glee Club, Social Committee, the Junior and Senior Play, Archery, Basketball, Softball, Volleyball and Cheerleading. She was also named the Queen of the Homecoming Dance her senior year.
Upon graduating from NCHS, Gail attended the University of Rhode Island before returning to New Canaan where she married her high school sweetheart and former Rams and Trinity College basketball standout, Don Overbeck. Gail and Don settled back into town and had three sons together – Brian, Christopher and Scott.
After Don’s untimely passing in 1974, Gail raised her three young sons to be athletes like their father. Growing up on Fieldcrest Road and with Gail’s encouragement, the boys honed their skills on the playgrounds and gyms of Center School then Saxe Middle School. All three Overbeck boys became star athletes at New Canaan High School in football, basketball and lacrosse and at one time or another were varsity teammates in each of the sports. Each one went on to play collegiate sports and Gail was extremely proud of her sons’ accomplishments, both on and off the playing fields.
Gail was not content to let her boys get all the athletic glory. After first serving as New Canaan’s cheerleading coach for many years, Gail then transitioned to become the head coach of the NCHS Girls Varsity Tennis team in 1996. It was the beginning of a dynasty on the courts for the Rams, as New Canaan won four FCIAC titles and 11 state championships during Gail’s 16 years as head coach.
Gail stepped away from coaching in 2011 to spend more time watching her grandchildren’s athletic exploits. She was ultimately honored by The New Canaan Old Timers Association and in 2016 she was inducted into the New Canaan High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
During this time Gail met legendary New Canaan hockey and assistant football coach Thomas “Bo” Hickey and they spent the next 35 years together, until this past February when Bo passed away following a brief illness.
Predeceased by her parents and brother Peter, Gail is survived by her sister Suzy, sons Brian, Christopher and Scott Overbeck, daughter-in-law Jenna Stewart Overbeck, as well as her eight grandchildren – Miller, Holden, Grayden, Rhys, Mabel, Merryn, Ellery and Tierney Overbeck. She will be interred with a public service at Lakeview Cemetery in New Canaan on Saturday, September 16th at 10:00 A.M.
Coach Gail was a wonderful lady and tremendous coach. She taught me humility and grace. She is missed and will be remembered everyday.
I knew Gail since 6th Grade and we touched base again after High School when we were both single parents and raising our boys. She was indeed an upbeat person and was a treasure in her dedication to many Sports. She was loved and very well known in the town she so loved – New Canaan. Sending prayers for her family as I know will miss her dearly.