Each Wednesday for a six-week period from June 4 to July 2, one of the six newly-minted inductees to the McGill Sports Hall of Fame will be profiled. In our fifth installment for the Class of 2025, read about builder Abigail Tannebaum (BA '00), a trailblazing founder of the McGill women's lacrosse program. During her days on campus, she met her future husband Adam Sharon (BA'00), and the couple now resides in the D.C. area with their two daughters.

Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in nearby Potomac, Md., the driven self-starter had a passion for lacrosse and brought a relentless determination that laid the foundation for the McGill women's lacrosse team. Arriving on campus as an ambitious 17-year-old anthropology and cultural studies freshman in 1996, she single-handedly spearheaded and established the program from scratch.

Her advocacy extended beyond McGill's campus as she successfully lobbied for the team's inclusion in the Ontario University Athletics conference, a milestone achieved in 1997 when the Martlets were granted OUA playing privileges.— a move that helped formalize and elevate the team's competitive status.

She earned her Level 1 technical coaching certification and initiated the recruitment process. By the fall of 1997, the Martlets were able to field a varsity team, thanks in large part to her tireless efforts. Tannebaum organized all logistics for the fledgling program, including fundraising, arranging accommodations, booking van rentals and even driving her teammates to games in Ontario. Over her final three years at McGill, she took on the daunting task of being the team's captain, head coach, manager and president, all at once.

On the field, she was no less impressive. A standout attacker, Tannebaum led the team in scoring in two of her three seasons, netting 13 goals in 10 games in 1998 and eight goals in 12 contests during the 1999 campaign. Her leadership propelled the Martlets to a bronze-medal finish at the OUA championship and earned two OUA East Division all-star selections (1997 and 1999), as well as back-to-back Team MVP honours in those same years.

Beyond the pitch, she played a pivotal role, serving as the lacrosse team's representative on the McGill Intercollegiate Sports Council. She chaired a sub-committee overseeing the Athletics Awards Gala and the Red and White Review. Her fundraising efforts were equally impactful, as she spearheaded a plan to purchase goal nets and team uniforms, buttressing the team's operational sustainability.

Her pioneering spirit and contributions were recognized in 1999 with the OUA East Division's Lacrosse Coordinator Award for leadership and organizational excellence. A year later, she was among three finalists for the prestigious Muriel V. Roscoe Award, presented to the top graduating female student-athlete for leadership and achievement at McGill Athletics. She also received the Scarlet Key Award, presented for leadership on campus.

Inspired by her favourite McGill course, Documentary Film, she pursued a career in the industry and founded Real Pictures, an award-winning production company. She recently completed her Executive MBA at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., graduating with honours as a member of Beta Gamma Sigma.

Other laureates accompanying Tannebaum-Sharon in the McGill induction class of 2025 include football's Dr. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif of St. Hilaire, Que., and Dr. Donald Taylor (DDS '66) of Lachine, Que., and hockey's Katia Clément-Heydra (BA '14), from St. Bruno de Montarville, Que. Also selected in the builder category is Dr. Philip Hedrei (MDCM '00), a rowing coach from Town of Mt. Royal, Que. Picked in the team category is the 2015 men's lacrosse squad that posted a perfect 15-0 record in league and playoffs en route to capturing the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association championship.

The McGill pantheon now has 186 honoured members, 31 of them Olympians. Founded in 1996, it will be celebrating its 30th induction class this year and is located inside Tomlinson Hall at the Sir Arthur Currie Gymnasium at 475 Pine Avenue West. This year's induction luncheon is slated for Friday, Oct. 24, as part of McGill Homecoming 2025, and will be held at 1909 Taverne Moderne, next to the Bell Centre on Avenue des Canadiens. Ticket information will be announced in early September and posted on the McGill Athletics and Homecoming 2025 websites.

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-983-7012 (cell)
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca