Believe in Friendship and Connection
Ellen, Marilyn, Lael, and Lona. Four friends who believed in the power of friendship. They played in 20 Vera Bradley Foundation Classic golf tournaments together. They sustained a friendship spanning three decades. They raised their families together, joyfully celebrated every milestone, and took countless girls’ trips. They fiercely circled and protected each other during challenging times.
Their outfits for the Classic are legendary. In fact, this iconic team inspired the “Best Dressed Team” award almost 20 years ago. Golf courses filled with women wearing matching shirts, shorts and skorts, visors, and even matching pink golf shoes made the Classic stand out from other tournaments. But for Ellen, Marilyn, Lael, and Lona, the bar was raised way beyond a matching outfit 20 years ago! Marilyn loves themes. She would begin planning months and months in advance – carefully pulling together a show stopping outfit to be unveiled the day of the Classic.
But it’s never been “just an outfit.” Lael’s mother is a 12-year breast cancer survivor, and these powerful women have been there for other friends who have faced down breast cancer.
The outfits and themes have been an extension of the passion these friends have for finding a cure for breast, and other, cancers that rob families and friends of years of joy.
The friends faced their most heartbreaking challenge in 2017, when Ellen was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Sadly, she won’t be playing in the Classic this year as she lost her three-year battle in November of 2020. Her beloved husband, Kent, will still caddie for the team.
Her shoes can never be filled, but her clubs and her joyful spirit will still be on the golf course.
The team will be joined by Marilyn’s daughter, Stephanie. Stephanie, a nurse anesthetist who considered Ellen to be her bonus mom, will play with Ellen’s clubs. And she’ll continue the tradition that irrevocably bound these friends together.
This year, “The Best Dressed Team” award is being given a fitting new name. The Ellen Pyle Style Award will be presented in honor of the woman who unwaveringly supported the Foundation while modeling the incredible power of friendship and connection. Ellen was equal parts elegant, graceful, loving, uplifting, and rip-roaring fun. Ellen was always a genuine friend, and she was always the best dressed!