Looking for a pickleball-playing partner or for lessons to learn the sport? How about a softball teammate, or drop-in basketball opportunity? Or someone with whom to try out a new activity — like maybe curling? Does traveling across the country to compete in tournaments interest you?

For any of the above, Jan Brown might be your best local contact.

The 72-year-old is not only a sports-playing enthusiast but also the USA Pickleball Ambassador from Newtown and State Coordinator for Women’s 50-plus Softball. Her dedication to promoting active lifestyles in older athletes is why Brown is the recipient of Newtown Bee’s Sportsman of the Year Award — named in honor of former Newtown Bee Sports Editor Kim Harmon — for 2021.

“It just makes me happy. It’s rewarding. I really enjoy watching other people have fun at it,” Brown said of her involvement with sports from the angle of promoting and instructing.

Team sports were not offered for girls in school when Brown was younger, but she was always active and was a cheerleader, gymnast, and swimmer while growing up in Norwalk. She first got involved with softball in a 50 and over league in Bethel 20 years ago. It was around that time that her life partner, Bruce Goulart, got involved with a men’s basketball league.

“I thought, this is so much fun. Why don’t I do this,” Brown recalls.

And the rest is history.

Brown has been running a Sunday morning pickup basketball league at Edmond Town Hall for nearly two decades, runs drop-in pickleball programs, has played with 70 and over basketball teams from New York and Florida that travel to compete in tournaments, and won several World and National Senior Games medals in softball and basketball.

She was honored as the 2012 CT Master’s Athlete of the Year by Connecticut Sports Management Group, organizers of the Connecticut Masters Games and Nutmeg Games. Brown was recognized as a 2015 All American at the Softball Players Association Tournament in Dalton, Ga. with the Tennessee Smoky Mountain Stars.

With limited organized team sports opportunities for those over 50 years old in Connecticut, Brown and others from the state join forces with players from all over to compete.

Brown has quite the collection of sports success hardware. She earned the silver medal in 2009 in the Palo Alto CA National Senior Games women’s softball tournament with her 50-plus team, Connecticut Senior Moments (the team marched in the Newtown Labor Day parade that year); earned a bronze medal in 2011 in the Houston National Senior Games 3 on 3 basketball tournament with her 60-plus team, Connecticut Sisters; won gold in 2013 in the St George, Utah Huntsman World Senior Games softball tournament with her 60-plus team, the Kansas Pnut Batters; she earned fourth place in 2019 in the Albuquerque, N.M. National Senior Games softball tournament with her 55-plus team, the Connecticut Thunder; and got fifth place in 2019 in the Albuquerque, N.M. National Senior Games 3 on 3 basketball tournament with her 70-plus team, the Connecticut Nutmegs.

Between the ages of 50 and 60, Brown completed five marathons — San Diego, Hartford, Mardi Gras, New York City twice, and ten half marathons, five sprint triathlons, along with numerous 5K races.

“Oddly enough, I’m not a very competitive person. I like to play for the experience of it — winning is a bonus,” Brown said. “I like the camaraderie of it. I’ve made numerous friends throughout the years.”

Brown enjoys motivating people to get started with sports and particularly enjoys seeing them play, learn, and have fun. “It’s heart-warming,” she said of watching athletes, particularly those over 50, getting the hang of a new sport.

Participants in the basketball drop-in program come from different parts of Connecticut as well as from New York and New Jersey, she said. “They come from all over to play. It’s great,” Brown said.

Although the group is for women 30 and over, the average age is 45, said Brown, adding that she is 4-foot-10 and plays basketball for the fun, socialization, and activity. “They’re all patient. They pass the ball to you,” she added. “It’s a good challenge.”

Quite A Variety Of Activities

Brown plays pickleball with Goulart and is always looking to pick up a recreational activity. She is on the Bethel Women’s Softball team Caraluzzi’s as one of the remaining three original players and competes on the Monroe/Shelton Women’s Softball team Vazzy’s. She bowls in a women’s morning league out of Brookfield.

“Bruce and I have played with some of our children and grandchildren in coed softball in Danbury and Bethel for about 20 years and coed dodgeball for some of the last ten years,” this sports enthusiast said.

“We’ve also tried our skills at horseshoes, darts, archery, badminton — currently looking for a local daytime badminton program — and bocci. We just purchased a corn hole set in February,” said Brown, adding that she got involved with curling this winter. “There’s so much out there.”

And Brown seemingly has tried all of it.

“I currently weight train twice per week with Joanne’s Fitness Studio, a very important factor in keeping me always in the game,” Brown said. “I’m hoping to continue to play ‘til I can’t stand up anymore, and then maybe I’ll try wheelchair sports.”

Pickleball For All

Brown believes it was in 2010 when she saw an article in an area publication about Janice Pauly, who had introduced pickleball to Ridgefield. “I dropped in at the rec center. She taught me the game by playing with me. I became addicted as do most people. Shortly after that we had pickleball in Newtown really due to Larry and Sonja Haskel, and Jim Wright, and RoseAnn Reggiano (assistant director of Newtown Recreation). Janice Pauly now lives in the D.C. area, and still plays and runs pickleball tournaments all over the country,” Brown said.

From student of pickleball to teacher of the game, Brown runs the drop in pickleball at Edmond Town Hall and Sandy Hook School for free for Newtown Recreation and teaches lessons for free for Newtown Parks and Recreation. She will meet with individuals as the Pickleball Ambassador to teach them to play and does not charge. She helped with advocating for the recent repairs to the Fairfield Hills courts and fundraising. Brown notes that Ed Miklaszewski is the driving force behind that effort.

She is part of the formation of the Newtown Pickleball Club; helped Newtown Parks and Recreation organize the Pickleball fundraiser at Aquila’s Nest in the fall; and was part of the Recreation Department’s Masters program that was working with Newtown residents to prepare for the Masters Games, and helped to recruit more masters athletes and participation.

“Jan goes above and beyond to show up, to help, to volunteer, to teach, to be kind, and to be fair and helpful. She is selfless and generous with her time and talents to teach and be available to grow sportsmanship for sports and athletes at any level. She never asks for payment or notoriety, she shares and teaches out of her love of sports and growing that for others. If she is not traveling and playing on a team, she is teaching and showing up for others. Always answering questions, researching, fundraising, sharing, and growing sports and sportsmanship. Jan is a true athlete and a wonderful, kind human being,” Newtown Parks and Recreation Director Amy Mangold said.

“She is a true value to the town of Newtown. She is amazing with getting people involved in pickleball. She never minds giving her time to the community for love of the game — definitely a gem,” Reggiano added.

In May of this year, Brown and Goulart will be in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for the 2021 National Senior Games (postponed from last year) to compete. “I am playing basketball with the 70-plus Connecticut Sisters and softball with the 70-plus North Carolina Wannabees. Bruce will be running a 5K, 10K, and doing a sprint triathlon — all in the 70-plus age division,” Brown said.

“It’s important for me to note that as USA Pickleball Ambassador from Newtown, my main responsibility is to promote pickleball whenever and wherever. It’s a fairly easy job since pickleball is growing rapidly. As State Coordinator for Women’s 50-plus Softball, I am also recruiting players who either thought that their playing days were over due to aging or simply do not know that there is a state and national program for not only softball but many sports,” Brown said.

Those interested in contacting Brown about pickleball, basketball, or other sports-playing opportunities may e-mail Jan Brown at jannie1225@msn.com or call or text 203-722-2383.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.