I’ve been very fortunate in my life to have known Bob Haddad the past 40 years as a mentor and an inspiration for how to make things happen through hard work, concern for others, and a sense of humor. When I was notified last Wednesday night of his passing that day after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s and Dementia, I wasn’t surprised but it has given me significant pause for reflection on how much someone can influence our life and passions.
My earliest contact with Coach Haddad was in the early 80’s while I was road racing in the area, and he conducted weekly Monday fun runs in the summer evenings at Windham High School. Although the races only drew a few dozen runners of all ages, Coach Haddad provided a well organized event that kept me coming back almost every week. As I got to know him each week, I became impressed by the energy level of this soft-spoken coach of the Windham cross country and track teams as he spent his summer evenings with the small community of runners.
It’s not like Coach Haddad didn’t have anything else to occupy his time as he had just started his Windham HS XC Invite in 1979 that became a favorite first-of-the-season meet for Connecticut coaches and teams. He had his roots in Willimantic since birth as well as earning his B.S. and Master’s degrees from Eastern Connecticut University. What I came to learn was all the accomplishments he had gained in his years at the helm of the Windham’s cross country and track & field teams that included state championships and numerous state, regional and national coaching awards as well as a member of the Connecticut Coaches Hall of Fame.
It wasn’t until working with Bob through his annual Windham XC Invite where I gained a better perspective of his character and determination as he continued to battle the onset of Parkinson’s disease. Bob was one of the first meet directors to embrace my services in 2007 for online entries and management of the meet renamed in his honor in 2009 that continued until the final meet in 2019.
It was in those early years of the new century that my renewed relationship with him provided me with inspiration to restart a coach’s cross country weekly poll that he had started in 1979 and he managed for many years until transferred to Coach Bill Baron. The recent 2022 cross country season that marked the 19th season of the boys and girls polls would not have been possible without the motivation Bob provided many years ago.
The 2008 invitational was supposed to be the last since he no longer had the energy but through his impact on the lives of so many inspired persons the meet was continued in 2009 under the leadership of Windham Coach Becky Howard and Charlie Olbrias. Although the reins of the meet were in new hands the atmosphere of the meet that Bob had grown was still evident in the large attendance of teams and spectators, custom awards, meet t-shirts, and the continued blasts of his favorite music from the speakers.
The 41st Robert Haddad Windham Invitational in 2019 under the longtime leadership of Windham’s James Thompson was the closing chapter of the storied meet. Looking back at that meet today it seems that day was when my association with Bob had come full circle as I brought a team to the meet as a head coach for the first time. I am finally able to truly appreciate the gifts of his time, dedication, knowledge, and caring that he bestowed on my life as my mentor, coach, and an authentic leader.
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Bob’s family will receive family and friends on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson Street, Willimantic. Burial and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson’s, 772 Apex Rd. Unit A Sarasota, FL 34240.
