Remembering Bill O'Rourke Jr.

Yesterday, I attended the Funeral Mass of Bill O'Rourke Jr. who died last week from cancer at the young age of 72. I often attend weekday Mass at St. John of Rochester RC Church where the Mass was celebrated. The Funeral Mass was well attended with family, Webster School district folk, Section V basketball community, & friends.

I didn't know Bill much at all. I've always followed local high school basketball and especially Webster basketball, the town I called home for 20+ years. Mr. O'Rourke was a long time Webster educator as a Spanish teacher, basketball coach, and principal.

I learned that he and I shared much in common. Loved the game of basketball as players & coaches, my coaching only at the youth levels. We both attended SJFC college, only had daughters as offspring, were faithful in our Catholic religion ( I saw him at both St. Paul's in Webster & SJR), and unfortunately both divorced. 

His daughter, Erin, gave a touching remembrance of her Dad. She spoke of how her father was a great listener & supporter of her and her two sisters. Bill always willing to pull up a chair to help with homework or college papers. Went on prom dress shopping trips. I've also learned patience and listening is a much valued virtue when raising daughters. Erin said family was the most important thing in her father's life. Most sad that he can't help  with his grandchildren's homework or jump shot. ( Erin was friends with my youngest daughter in high school)

Fr Peter Clifford caught the essence of the man. He said he tried, but couldn't find an enemy of Bill's. Not a foe on the basketball court, a referee, or former student. He said there must be one out there. Fr. Peter spoke very little of wins or losses, but of the man's integrity, humility, & honesty. His love of his family & his faith.

It may be odd, but I often attend the Funeral Mass of people that I have a connection to, big or small. It's a great way to express my gratitude of a life well lived. God Bless the O'Rourke family. ✝ 🙏.

Descansa en paz ! Coach & Mr. O'Rourke. 🏀 

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.Amen.

P.S.

One of the more telling O'Rourke stories involved the 1986 Section 5 Class AAA semifinals at the Rochester War Memorial. Coaches at Aquinas, an upstart with little history of success in the basketball tournament but fresh off an upset of East High, misunderstood the procedure for assigning home and visiting teams in each round and showed up for the game against Webster wearing the wrong uniforms.

   By rule, Webster was entitled to a pair of technical free throws for every Aquinas player who entered the game, beginning with the five starters. That could have put Webster ahead by 10 points before the opening tip, but O'Rourke would have none of it. He declined the opportunity to shoot the free throws.

   Webster lost that night, 63-60.