Alice K. Voelkel, a benefactor of urban schools who was a 37-year trustee and former president of her family's Knott Foundation, died of an aneurysm Dec. 28 at Gilchrist Hospice Care. The longtime Roland Park resident was 82.
Born Martha Alice Knott in Baltimore, she was the daughter of Henry Joseph Knott, a builder, and Marion I. Burk Knott, a homemaker. She grew up on 21st Street near Greenmount Avenue and was a member of St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church. She attended the Institute of Notre Dame for 12 years and graduated from its high school in 1950. She and her siblings gave the school, located on Aisquith Street in East Baltimore, a new gymnasium in 1992. Her father also contributed to the building's construction.
In 1953, after completing three years at what is now Notre Dame of Maryland University, she married Robert E. Voelkel Jr., an officer of the old Mercantile-Safe Deposit and Trust Co.
Mrs. Voelkel played basketball and field hockey as a student and as an adult was an accomplished tennis player. She competed at the Homeland Racquet Club in the Baltimore Women's Interclub Tennis League, as well as in state tournaments and the National Claycourt Doubles in Houston.
"She was a tough competitor," said a friend, Joyce Levy, who lives in Baltimore. "And while she was warm personally, she would not always show it to the outside world. She was caring and very giving, and appeared to be tougher than she really was."
Mrs. Levy said her friend was "giving of herself financially" and cared deeply about her family.
"She was fearless about venturing into city neighborhoods where she was generous as a donor," said Mrs. Levy. "If I asked her about this, Alice would say, 'Why shouldn't I?'"
She said that Mrs. Knott enjoyed eating at local restaurants and often chose ones located in Baltimore's older neighborhoods.
Mrs. Voelkel coached and refereed girls basketball. She regularly attended Institute of Notre Dame games.
"She was a significant benefactor to the school and returned to have lunch with the girls who were her scholarship recipients," said Jerrilyn Borneman, the school's director of development.
Mrs. Voelkel was also a bridge player and lacrosse enthusiast.
Mrs. Voelkel served for 37 years on her family's philanthropic foundation, the Henry J. and Marion I. Knott Foundation, where she was president from 1988 to 1995. She also sat on the boards of the Knott Scholarship Fund and Mount Saint Mary's University.
Family members recalled her for "life lessons of kindness, humility, a strong Catholic faith, unconditional love, her competitive spirit, and her altruistic behavior."
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, 5200 N. Charles St., where she was a member.
Survivors include four sons, R. Emmett Voelkel III and J. Timothy Voelkel, both of Baltimore, Peter G. Voelkel of Raleigh, N.C., and T. Brent Voelkel of Chapel Hill, N.C.; two daughters, M. Carlisle Hashim and Marty Voelkel-Hanssen, both of Baltimore; three brothers, Francis Knott, James Knott and Martin Knott, all of Baltimore; six sisters, Patricia Smyth of Baltimore, Marion McIntyre of Naples, Fla., Margaret Riehl of Easton, and RoseMarie Porter, Lindsay Harris and Stuart Rodgers, all of Baltimore; and 16 grandchildren. Her husband of 57 years died in 2010.