Smith College Athletics

A 1939 Smith graduate and proud resident of Parsons House, Janice Lifson Berkley is one of the finest divers to have ever attended Smith College.  Her remarkable athletic accomplishments began at age 11 when she won her first diving competition.  At the age of 19, she captured the Women’s Metropolitan Senior High Board Diving Championship for the seventh consecutive year at the Amateur Athletic Union Meet.  She was a three-time Metropolitan AAU 10 Foot Fancy Diving Champion.  The Detroit Jewish News named her the Outstanding Jewish Swimmer in America in 1934.  And in 1935 she participated in the second Maccabiah Games in Tel-Aviv.  She was the last surviving member of the 1935 Maccabiah Games team.  Known as one of America’s finest divers, Janice also participated in the 1936 Olympic Trials. 

During her time at Smith, Janice was a three-time member to the All-Smith Team for her participation in swimming from 1937-1939. She was nominated and served as a Junior usher for Ivy day, a coveted position during that time.  She was also one of only six undergraduates to be awarded the All-Smith Blazer.   Janice remained active with her class and the alumnae association, serving as a class officer as recently as 1998.

Her achievements are even more impressive given the era in which she competed.  Well before Title IX mandated equal support for women athletes, Janice was achieving success at an unprecedented level and on a national and international stage.