Above: ARHS is paying tribute to Coach Dick Walsh who died yesterday at the age of 92. (images from gonkgram)
The Algonquin Regional High School community is mourning the loss of a long time, beloved staff member — Richard “Dick” Walsh.
This morning, Algonquin’s Principal shared the news about the death of the former ARHS Athletic Director and Football coach who, post-retirement, had continued to play an active role in campus life until very recently.
According to the school’s Instagram post, Walsh passed away yesterday at the age of 92.
Below is the message from Principal Sean Bevan that was emailed to ARHS families today about “a cherished founding member of our ARHS family”:
With Deep Sadness: The Loss of Mr. Richard Walsh
Dear ARHS students and families,
It is with deep sadness that I share news of the peaceful passing of Mr. Richard “Dick” Walsh, a cherished founding member of our ARHS family, on September 14, 2024. Mr. Walsh dedicated 64 years of his life to our school, working first as a teacher and coach from the day of its opening and then, over decades and with several generations of Algonquin students, in various roles, including athletic director and helping in the cafeteria and around the facility.He was always funny and kind, and he admired ARHS students and staff, remarking frequently about how lucky he felt to come to work here each day. He often told me, “I love being around the kids. They haven’t changed much… they’ve always been the best part about this place.”
It would be impossible to list Mr. Walsh’s many, many contributions to our school and community. Still, some of the more notable are: Mr. Walsh’s 64 years of service to ARHS is, by far, the longest tenure of any of our school’s employees; he coached several sports, including football, securing our school’s first and only Super Bowl victory, in 1973; and, our stadium field was named for him in recognition of his vast contributions of time, effort, and fundraising to the facility and to the ARHS athletics program as a whole. Newly-renovated this past year, the stadium field will continue to be named for Mr. Walsh. For a more detailed overview of Mr. Walsh’s lifelong commitment to the athletics program, see this tribute from Director of Athletics Mike Mocerino.
Mr. Walsh’s legacy goes beyond athletics: for decades, he was a familiar and supportive presence in the classroom and at school events, forming relationships with students and staff that lasted until his passing. The athletes that he coached invariably described him as tough but fair, and he took his various roles very seriously. But, he didn’t take himself seriously: right up until his last days at ARHS, he was funny and approachable, always quick with a joke, often at his own expense. Every day, Mr. Walsh demonstrated an uncommon blend of hard work, high expectations of himself and others, warmth, humor, and an appreciation specifically for our students. This combination made him a fixture of our school and, in many ways, the embodiment of the spirit of dedication and community that defines ARHS. We opened this school year for the first time without our longtime colleague, friend, and coach, Mr. Walsh. But, he has remained with us in spirit and memory, and he will continue to do so.
I do not have information about services yet, but I will send it along when I do.
At the request of the Walsh family, we have established “The Richard Walsh Memorial Fund”, which will be dedicated to enhancing and improving the Richard Walsh Field, where Coach Walsh devoted much of his time and energy. Details about how to contribute to the fund will be forthcoming.
With heartfelt condolences,Mr. Bevan
The affection Walsh expressed for the students was clearly mutual.
In 2015, word got out that Walsh might be banned from working/volunteering on school property. Students quickly reacted with outrage and a petition to #FREEWALSH. The school appeared to reverse course, clarifying and working out details to allow him to continue to have a presence at the school.
A follow up article by the school paper, The Harbinger quoted faculty who spoke about Walsh’s support of and impact on the ARHS community. Two years later, the paper shared some of Walsh’s memories about how the school has changed. And, three years ago, they highlighted his 90th birthday with an interview.
Below is the GonkGram post paying tribute to Walsh:
View this post on Instagram
Update (9/17/24 8:17 am): The official obituary with service information has been posted here.
