Her induction into the athletic hall of fame at Newton North last Saturday night prompted Dr. Marguerite (Midge) Connolly to recall the positive influence that her parents had on her success on the field.

Her late mother, Peggy, a role model, played softball and volleyball for many years and competed at Senior Olympic volleyball tournaments.

Her late father, Gerald, was Connolly’s Little League coach.

“I was the only girl on his team and dad was under pressure from other coaches because of that,’’ remembered the 49-year-old Connolly, now the director of student services for the Weston Public Schools.

“He would keep me after practice and hit pop flies to me. And the best part was that occasionally at the end of these extra practices, we would celebrate with a trip to the Brigham’s in Newton Highlands.

“He believed in me and it was an important moment in my life. All of us, my parents, brothers and sisters, were and are there for each other.’’

One of seven siblings, Connolly competed in sectional and state track championships in the high jump and javelin before graduating in 1984. She also played three positions (point guard, shooting guard, and forward) in as many seasons on the girls’ basketball team. She was also the pnly sophomore to start on the Tigers’ first Suburban League champion volleyball team.

Selected to the Massachusetts Junior Olympic volleyball team in high school, she was a two-time women’s volleyball captain and a varsity lacrosse goalie at Boston College.

“Going into the Hall is incredibly humbling and a great honor since much of my life has been intertwined in Newton,’’ said Connolly, a 1988 Boston College graduate.

In her hometown, she directed the aquatics program at Crystal Lake, coached the city’s Special Olympics swimmers (“an incredible gift for me’’), and has coached and served on the board for Newton Girls’ Lacrosse.

“The opportunity to give back to the community that gave so much to my family has been incredibly gratifying,’’ said Connolly, whose career as an educator included serving as a principal at Williams Elementary, a vice principal at Newton North and principal at Central High School, all in Newton.

A West Newton resident, Connolly and her husband, Atty. Walter Devine, have two children; Molly is a sophomore on the girls’ lacrosse team at North. Aida, a freshman at North, is a promising jazz musician.

In addition to her bachelor’s degree in education and master’s in special education from BC, Connolly received a master’s in education at Harvard and her doctorate in curriculum and instruction at BC.

Her grandfather, Dennis, “preceded’’ her at Harvard.

“He had just arrived from Ireland and worked on the construction of Harvard Stadium,’’ said Connolly.

At the hall of fame ceremony, in which Connolly was one of 11 inductees, her entourage included former North girls’ volleyball coach Jay Cradle.

“The skills Jay taught me helped lead to my scholarship at BC. She was an inspiration,’’ said Connolly, who overcame five knee surgeries before she graduated college but, nevertheless, stays active through running.

“Athletics enabled me to set goals, take chances and persevere, ‘’ she said.

“In my current job, I consider myself once again part of a team, one providing educational and life opportunities for all students.’’

Marvin Pave can be reached at marvin.pave@rcn.com.