William Paul Kelleher

About

East Hartford High School Putnam High School Brown University Trinity College University of Connecticut

William Kelleher Obituary

William (Bill) Paul Kelleher of Coventry, Connecticut passed away on Monday, January 2nd 2023, at the age of 91. Bill died peacefully with his family by his side.

Bill was born in Goodyear (now Killingly) CT, to father William Leo Kelleher and mother Pauline (Trudeau) Kelleher. The oldest of two sons, Bill was an avid athlete and lifelong learner who valued exercising the mind and the body. After attending Putnam High School where he was an outstanding football hero and held multiple long-standing track and field records, he attended Brown University and then the University of Connecticut, graduating with a Masters Degree in Education. He played football at Brown and ran track at UConn, solidifying his lifelong love for the sport. After graduation, he taught Biology and coached at East Hartford High School before starting a long and storied career as Track and Field Coach and Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut.

Despite multiple championships and undefeated seasons over a 22 year career at UConn and then a seven year career at Trinity College after "retiring", Coach Kelleher's contribution to UConn and the sport of track and field can't be measured in wins and losses alone. A true educator, his unyielding adherence to a principled coaching philosophy produced four All Americans, one Olympian, and the Big East's first ever Team Champion. His philosophy produced not just great teams and individuals, but grounded, educated young men and women who are better people for having been coached by him.

Bill also had a large and loving family. He married his high school sweetheart Joy (Wilde) Kelleher in 1950, and they enjoyed 72 years together raising a family, running a successful business, and traveling. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jim Kelleher, and by his daughter Ellen (Kelleher) Marrotte. He is survived by his wife Joy; sons Bruce and his wife Jean, Brian and his wife Cherie, and Barry; grandchildren Jennifer, Alyssa, Candice, Brenna, Jocelyn, Chelsea, Vanessa, and Charlotte; and numerous great grandchildren. He was also a lifelong member of the Coventry Lions Club.

In lieu of a memorial service, Bill's family will be remembering and celebrating his life privately at his favorite places. People wishing to honor Bill's lifelong commitment to family and community can make donations in his memory to the Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic, CT, which Bill supported and delivered food to for over 20 years. Please make all donations in his name on their website at www.covenantsoupkitchen.org

"This is a world of action, and not moping or droning in….." – Charles Dickens

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Hartford Courant on Jan. 8, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for William Kelleher

Sponsored by the family.

11 Entries

Tony Pillari

March 22, 2023

Mrs. Kelleher and family. I was a shot and discus thrower at UConn from 1975-1979. Coach K had a particular love for the field events and was aware of my high school competition. My application process at UConn was moving slowly through the system. I decided to visit him at UConn to ask if he might help in moving it along. Sitting in his plain old office in the field house expecting that he would say that the process was the process and I would need to wait, he picked up the phone immediately while I was there, called one of his academic associates involved in the process, asked him to pull up my application and look at it. That day the process was complete and I was in the university. 4 years later I graduated with an engineering degree. After, Coach K then made it a point to watch me compete in the discus at the 1975 State high school finals. My own high school coach did not attend. Coach K was there. I spoke with him and said see you next year. He respected his professional colleagues at UConn, helped them when necessary and in turn they helped Coach K when necessary. He took personal interest in his athletes and thought about them often, not only during practice or during meets. Please celebrate his life.

Mike DiPietro

January 9, 2023

Mrs. Kelleher and family,
I ran track at UConn for Coach Kelleher from 1975-1979. He was a amazing coach and mentor to me. Coach was/is a very important part of my life, instilling lifelong lessons such as perseverance, self-confidence, and self-reliance. One of my fondest memories is when I was able to stay at your home after the dorms shut down in the spring, but practices continued. Your hospitality (and great meals) was greatly appreciated. My condolences to all of the Kelleher family. He will be missed.

Mike DiPietro
Class of 1979

Ben Goss

January 9, 2023

Coach K was one of the most influential people in my life. I can truly say that I wouldn't be the person I am today were it not for him. He was my coach from 1996 to 2000 at Trinity College. I was extraordinarily fortunate to have him as a coach for the pentathlon and decathlon. Most days, he would schedule 1 on 1 sessions with me so that I had his undivided attention. Imagine that! Such an accomplished coach all to myself! I learned so much about myself, athletics, integrity, hard work, and humility from him. I think he knew me better than I knew myself. He wasn't just a track coach, he was a friend, mentor, and teacher. He knew how to bring out the best in people and I am forever grateful for everything he taught me. Even though he once told me I have "dainty hands," he managed to take a mediocre high school track athlete and convert him into the Division 3 New England champion in the decathlon; something I am very proud of and owe completely to Coach K.

Coach, thank you for helping me to find what I am capable of and for teaching me hard work and grace.

Love,
Ben Goss

John keleher

January 7, 2023

God speed coach. A fine coach, a fine man a true friend and mentor
John Keleher

Alice Salvas Smith

January 7, 2023

I attended Grammar School and High School with Bill Kelleher. He was a very nice person and well liked by all who knew him. My condolences to his wife, Joy, and to his children who I know will miss him tremendously. Rest in Peace Bill.

JOHN W BRACCIO

January 6, 2023

Dear Kelleher Family,
My deepest condolences. I was on Coach Kelleher's UCONN track & field team from 1972 to 1976. Besides being a great coach, he was a steady and important mentor during my somewhat turbulent college career. I am sure many of his former students and athletes feel the same and appreciated our time with Coach Kelleher (and Coach Kennedy) as I did. I found this old photo with one of our teammates that illustrates the caring person he was.

Jim Makiaris

January 6, 2023

Mr. Kelleher was never my coach, but he was one of the finest teachers of biology anywhere. I had the priviledge of being in his classes at East Hartford High School in the early 60's. He was one of those unique individuals who not only taught content, but life lessons as well. I am better for having known him.

Tom Bowler

January 6, 2023

My condolences go out to your family. Bill was an excellent track coach. I had the privilege as a young coach to compete against his East Hartford High team when Rockville High School was just starting their program. He was a true gentleman. Tom Bowler, Merritt Island, Florida

Pat Brand

January 5, 2023

Dear Kelleher family,
Although we´ve never met, Coach Kelleher was track and field coach at UConn when I was on the indoor and outdoor teams from 1975-1979. Coach along with Coach Kennedy were role models for caring about kids, the importance of hard work and winning as a team. I saw Coach at Trinity about 15 years ago and he remembered me immediately and his enthusiasm for helping coach at Trinity was exactly what I remembered about him at UConn. We were so lucky to have great role models like Coach Kelleher and Kennedy and I miss them both to this day.

My condolences to all of you and thanks for sharing him with us.

Pat Brand
Class of 79

Bill Humphreys

January 5, 2023

He became my track coach at East Hartford High School the winter of 1961 & 62 and the whole team knew just how lucky we were.
The main thing I came away with after four years of high school were some decent study habits, developed after I switched to business courses. That was influenced by the track coach, who played a big part in bringing out my true potential as an athlete. Mr. Kelleher was ahead of his time with regards to training techniques and specific workouts for each category of runner, from sprinters to middle- and long-distance runners.
He would actually come out and run some of the workouts with us. He had us get to school early for sessions before school even started. We ran outdoors all winter, in shoveled-off parking lots, in preparation for the indoor season, which would build a strong foundation for our outdoor season in the spring. It was during these hard winter workouts in that parking lot, that I developed a hairline fracture in my ankle that did not show up on Xrays until several weeks later and I missed the indoor season, knowing that I had run a 4:48 mile in practice on a flat armory floor with 4 laps per ¼ mile, making it next to impossible to pace myself. We worked out at Hartford Public High School on their ancient track above the basketball courts and got to know all the fast black kids on that team. Their coach Lindy Remigino was an Olympic Medalist in the 100 yard dash and all his top runners wore these white Patrick track shoes, that I coveted and could not wait until I earned a pair from our coach. When I finally got my pair the pain in my left ankle was beginning to get painful and I never got to wear them in competition. By the time we had the right diagnosis coach Kelleher had tried Icing it and massaging that whole lower calf area. He took my injury seriously and tried everything he could to get me back running, but it was late in May before I could run a complete workout and I was never at my best.
Twelve years later I would make the USA national cycling team at age 28. After racing with the US Team in the Tour of Newfoundland an international race of 6 days 575 miles across the island we were victorious in the team and individual competitions. While visiting with my parents in East Hartford after the race, I put on my USA Jersey and road my bike up to UConn. Once there I found the track field house and road my bike into the building and down the hall to coach Kelleher's office just to thank him and let him know I had finally reached the potential he had seen in me back in High School. He was surprised to see me after not hearing about or seeing me for many years. He could not help himself from grinning from ear to ear, it was a very special moment in my life, he inspired me to keep trying and never give up, and I owe my successful cycling career to him. Bill Humphreys, USA Team 1973 to 1975, USA Cycling Coach 1977 to 1980.

Sharon Kennedy Hollay

January 5, 2023

Dear Joy, Barry, Brian, Bruce and family, Extending deepest sympathies on your loss. Bill/ Coach Kelleher was a special person in my life for so many years. He always took time to talk with me, to care about me and the Kennedy family. I loved volunteering at the UCONN Track&Field and X-Country meets- he was always so appreciative and always such a gentleman. He loved his family and his work. I will miss him so much. With love, Sherry Kennedy Hollay

Showing 1 - 11 of 11 results