William J. Hodge

William J. Hodge, graduate of Monsignor Farrell H.S. and former track coach at Moore Catholic H.S. and Wagner College, died November 5, in Charlotte, N.C. At the time of his death, Hodge, who would have turned 60 on November 13, was the women's and men's head track and field coach at Belmont Abbey College in N.C. Just last month, the Staten Island native had been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, where he had been the men's and women's track and field head coach for several years. In recognizing his achievements, the college said that he had crafted the blueprint for a winning track program that is still being followed more than a decade after his departure from the school. While a member of the track team at Farrell and captain of the-then Staten Island Community College team, Hodge set several records that still stand today. "It was because of runners like Bill, who were good students and superior athletes, that S.I.C.C. was brought into national prominence in its early days," said Nick Farkouh, associate professor at the College of Staten Island, who coached Hodge at S.I.C.C. in the early 1970s. In addition to Wagner College, Robert Morris University and Belmont Abbey College, Hodge coached teams that won acclaim at Columbia University, Bucknell University, Lafayette College, Mt. Olive College and Rider University. During his career Hodge was honored as "Coach of the Year" at four different NCAA Division I conferences. Several of the runners he trained went on to play NFL football and compete as Olympic hopefuls. Hodge was pre-deceased by his parents William and Dorothy Siller Hodge. He is survived by his loving wife Jadwiga, and four children, Roksana, Gina, Ada and Cyprian. Also left to cherish his memory are his sisters Catherine Hodge Christman and Marie Hodge, brothers Frederick Hodge, John Hodge, and Russell Hodge, and numerous nieces and nephews. The wake will be held at Green Funeral Home, Main St., Danbury CT, on Wednesday, November 10, from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9p.m. Funeral services will be held on Thursday November 11th 10:30 am at Faith Church, New Milford. Burial will follow at Mountainview Cemetery in New Fairfield.