RPI and the entire hockey community suffered a great loss with the passing of women’s hockey Coach Bill Cahill Sunday. Sadness fills us all as we realize that we will no longer see his smiling face in the Field House, cheering the girls as they fight for their victories, or goading us to get ice cream with him while in the McNeil room.
Cahill’s passion for the game as well as life filled his players with hopes of success even when they doubted themselves, while his soft-spoken words of encouragement are held in the hearts of every player who knew him as “Coach.” His devotion to the women’s ice hockey team has brought them so far, yet, in his modesty, he always pointed to the talents of the girls as the reason for their triumphs.
Everyone who was given the opportunity to get to know him describes Cahill as one of the most genuinely nice people they’ve met. In our dealings with him as the staff of The Polytechnic, he was always very friendly and light-hearted. He always found time to fit us in for interviews or to answer questions, and was quick to lend a hand whenever he could.
Coach Cahill will be missed very much as one of the key figures on campus. He was not only an irreplaceable part of our athletics department, but also an irreplaceable man. The staff of The Polytechnic would like to offer their condolences to Coach Cahill’s family, the members of women’s and men’s ice hockey team, the staff of the athletics department, and everyone affected by BC’s sudden passing.
