Above: Lifelong athletics booster Elliot Driben donated to every BU sports team and cheered at all events, including away games.
Elliot Driben, “The Mayor of Terrier Nation,” a lifelong donor and supporter of our student-athletes
He was a joyful presence, always cheering on Terrier athletes in marquee sports like hockey or basketball—but also diving and rowing and many others. Elliot Driben, who passed away in May 2025 at 80, had enough school spirit to go around—and then some. He also showed his support by donating to every team, every year, for decades.
“He made us feel seen, valued, and a part of something bigger,” says April Madiedo (Questrom’11), a women’s softball center fielder in her student days. “Whether you played in a high-profile sport or the marching band, Elliot showed up, cheered, remembered names and moments, and made it clear that we were seen and supported.”
Driben battled cerebral palsy all his life and struggled with hearing, speech, and muscle control—but he didn’t let it hold him back.
“He made us feel seen, valued, and a part of something bigger.”
“He would regularly take in three to five athletic contests on any given Saturday or Sunday. A weeklong tally reached close to 20 events many times,” says former women’s hockey coach Brian Durocher (Wheelock’78), one of several Terriers who watched over Driben in his later years.
The man who gave everything he could to support our teams has been given a fitting tribute: his name graces the lobby of Case Gym, where the diehards gather. And his passion and generosity earned him a permanent place in BU Athletics history—and the memories of generations of Terriers.