William Frederick Huther, of Skaneateles, known to many as “Bill,” and many more as “Coach,” passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. He was in one of his favorite places, Sanibel Island, FL, enjoying time with his wife and family when he passed away.
Born in Utica, N.Y. on Dec. 9, 1934, he lived in both Hamilton, N.Y. and Auburn, N.Y. Bill graduated from Auburn East High School in 1952 and played on the undefeated 1950 football team. In 1956, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Colgate University where he played basketball, baseball and track, and was a teammate on the 1955 baseball team that played in the College World Series in Omaha, NE. The following year, Bill returned to Colgate and received a Master of Arts degree in physical education.
Bill served in the U.S. Army First Division (The Big Red One) in Fort Riley, Kansas, and Baumholder, Germany. He taught physical education, health and coached football, basketball, baseball and tennis at various levels at Auburn Central High from 1959-1970. In 1968-1969 he was a Fulbright Exchange Teacher at Marshalswick School in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. Bill became a guidance counselor at Auburn High School in 1970, where he had a profound impact on the lives of generations of Auburn students until his retirement in 1994. Bill often said that teaching was “caught, not taught,” and there were no truer words to describe how he treated his work. The values of service, education and the importance of athletics in personal development were instilled in Bill at a very young age by his parents, and he lived his life focused on building relationships with students, teaching them about citizenship, sportsmanship and personal responsibility. After retiring from the district, he continued to invest in young people as an area admissions representative for Albright College in Reading, PA until 2009.
Bill was an avid athlete well beyond high school and college. He played semi-pro basketball for Kufs News, The Italian Village and Pecorello’s Market in Utica. He taught tennis during the summers in Wilmington, DE; Hamilton, Bermuda; and the Owasco Country Club in Auburn. Bill was a five-time Auburn Men’s Singles Tennis Champion, and the 1991 National Senior Games Men’s Singles Tennis Champion (ages 55-59), as well as the National Men’s Doubles Tennis runner-up the same year. His dedication to the athletic and educational programs of Central New York were recognized with a Section III Service Award in 1973. In 2002, he was honored to be elected alongside his father Joseph (posthumously) to the Auburn High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
A true citizen of the world, Bill remained active in a variety of organizations that were near and dear to him throughout his life including NYSRTA, The Cayuga Museum, The Schweinfurth Museum, Rockport Massachusetts Art Association and Townsend Lawn Tennis Club in St Albans, England. He had also been active with Teenage March of Dimes, the Cayuga County Mental Health Association, was an advisor to YMCA Hi Y groups and the treasurer of Friends in Service Here (F.I.S.H) in Skaneateles. Throughout Bill’s life he enjoyed – and excelled – at his many hobbies including golf, tennis and oil painting.
Bill loved where he grew up and the communities, he lived in. Along the way, he seemed to make a connection with everyone and those relationships only grew stronger over the years. Former colleagues, students and friends from throughout his life were always on his mind and in his heart. None of these connections, however, were as important to him as his love for his family, especially his six adoring grandchildren. In recent years, you could find “Bompa” at birthday parties, sporting events, concerts or on the floor playing with truckies. No family moment was missed, and every milestone was celebrated with a phone call, congratulatory note or hug.
Bill was predeceased by his parents Joseph and Cornelia Huther of Auburn and Hamilton, N.Y., and Tavares, FL, and grand-nephew Graham Murphy of Liverpool, N.Y.
Bill is survived by his wife of 43 years Carol, daughter Erika (Jason) Clark and grandchildren Leah, Jackson and Tabor of Marcellus N.Y.; son Kevin (Christina) Huther and grandchildren William, Petra and Lukas of Medfield, MA; exchange daughter Kaisa (Jari) Kortesoja, and their children Eeva, Eero and Aune of Pori, Finland; sister-in-law Susan Bobbett of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be held from 2-6 p.m. Sunday, March 8, at Robert D. Gray Funeral Home, Skaneateles. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 9, at the First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles, 97 E. Genesee St. with a burial to follow at Lakeview Cemetery, Skaneateles. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the E. John Gavras Center, 182 North St., Auburn, NY 13021, gavrascenter.com; F.I.S.H. of Skaneateles, Inc, 24 Jordan Street, Skaneateles, NY 13152 and the John Dau Foundation, 97 East Genesee St, Skaneateles, NY 13152, johndaufoundation.org.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.
