Ski racing community remembers Bill McGrath
Bill McGrath in just one of innumerable masters ski races.
Simply put, Bill McGrath was a life force. He died Oct. 21 of complications from colon cancer, two weeks shy of his 50th birthday. An engineer who designed many of the grand hotels in the Park City area as well as high tech water treatment facilities, he was also a gifted athlete who ran professionally and held numerous running records at the University of Vermont where he graduated cum laude. His mark for the 1500 has still not been eclipsed, and he still shares a portion of the UVM Distance Medley Relay record with Steve Phelps, Scott Bell, and Steve Piscopo, set in 1985.
Born William Ambrose McGrath Nov. 4, 1964 in Hanover, N.H., and a resident of Norwich, Vt., he attended Norwich and Hanover schools. He entered the University of Vermont in 1988, earning a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering and winning the Wasson Athletic Prize awarded a senior student-athlete demonstrating a high level of athletic achievement while maintaining the highest level of academic scholarship.
After graduation he worked for a Boston engineering firm and then taught chemistry at Burke Mountain Academy. He later returned to UVM to obtain a doctorate in civil engineering. Shortly after earning his Ph.D., he married Canadian Darci Thompson who was working in the U.S. as a nurse. They moved to Park City, Utah, acquired a home and raised two sons, Scott and Reese. McGrath was very involved with his sons, attending hundreds of hockey games, soccer games, swim meets and ski races.
He enjoyed outstanding success as a masters ski racer and particularly liked matching up against long-time friend and rival, Tyler Palmer. He was a multiple New England Sise Cup winner and was a dominant competitor in the Intermountain Masters circuit.
McGrath is survived by his wife, Darci, sons Scott and Reece, his mother Susan Morgan in Bozeman, Mont., his father Robert of Washington, D.C., his siblings Felix of Oslo, Norway, Rob of Manchester Center, Vt., and sister Swithin of Bozeman, Mont.
As a tribute, donations may be made to the Bill McGrath Memorial Fund, Youth Sports Alliance, PO Box 681698, Park City, Utah 84068.
About the Author: Hank McKee
