Karen Tellinghuisen

The “miracle” baby was healthy and strong, but at 18 months her parents discerned that their daughter could not hear. She initially received instruction at SUNY Fredonia and by age 3 she began formal schooling at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf in Buffalo.

At St. Mary’s, Karen displayed an affinity for and a talent at athletics. She played volleyball, basketball, softball and track and field. She was the Most Valuable Player on the volleyball, basketball and track & field teams in high school and she received the Outstanding Athlete Award at St. Mary’s School. She was named a 1977 Deaf Girls Basketball All-American. She was inducted into St. Mary’s School for the Deaf Hall of Fame in 1998.

Tellinghuisen’s coach at St. Mary’s, Lou Pennella, noticed that she had a very powerful arm playing softball, suggested she try throwing the javelin and with considerable practice she became quite proficient. He took Karen to the 1977 USA tryouts for the World Deaf Olympic Games at Gallaudet University (Washington, D. C.) and she earned a spot on the track and field team.

The village of Falconer and the surrounding communities rallied to raise funds for Karen and her mother to go to Bucharest, Romania for the World Games. After winning the previously mentioned gold medal, Karen was welcomed back to Falconer with a huge homecoming party. She was feted at a Jamestown Expos baseball game by local dignitaries and a street in Falconer was named “Karen Lane” in her honor.

Following her graduation from St. Mary’s in 1978, she attended the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology. She continued training with the javelin and in 1981 competed in the Deaf World Olympic Games, this time in Cologne, Germany. Again she returned home with a medal, this time a bronze.

Karen’s positive attitude and strong work ethic were keys for the accomplishments she had as an athlete. Those same attributes led her to have a successful 30-year career as a Calculations Clerk for New York State. She never let her inability to hear to be a handicap for her goals. Tellinghuisen retired in 2017 and is now living in Murfreesboro, TN.