Frederick W. "Bill" Haubrich
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Frederick William "Bill" Haubrich, 93, of Concord, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 2nd at Havenwood Heritage Heights Retirement Community in Concord, NH. He was born on September 9, 1928, the third and youngest son of Frederick William and Marion (Rice) Haubrich of Claremont, NH.
Bill grew up in Claremont, NH and was educated in the Claremont school system where his lifelong love of sports had its start at Stevens High School. There he excelled as an All-State athlete in both football and basketball, following the footsteps of his dad who had tied the existing world record for the 100-yard-dash of 10 seconds flat in 1907. After his graduation in 1946, Bill attended Dartmouth College for a year and then went on to the University of New Hampshire where he was All-Yankee-Conference and team captain in those two sports (the last to have ever done that double duty at UNH). Bill played tight end and captianed the 1950 Wildcat gridiron team; the last undefeated/untied football team in the history of the school.
Following three years as a lieutenant in the US Air Force, Bill returned to UNH for graduate work, and in 1957 became a physical education teacher at Rundlett Jr. High School, the first year the new building was opened. Bill also was the boys basketball coach at Concord High School and his teams reached the Class L tournament in each of his five years, made it to the finals twice, and won the Class L state championship in 1962.
From 1963 to 1969, Bill returned to his alma mater in Durham, serving in various athletic department capacities. He was a very successful varsity lacrosse coach and ended three years of head men's basketball coach in 1969, heading back to Concord as the district's first full time Athletic Director, a position he held for the next 21 years until his retirement in 1990.
Bill Haubrich's Athletic Director resume at Concord reads like a "how to" guide for athletic success. He organized the existing athletic program and built the girls' athletic offerings from two sports when he arrived to a program that equaled the boys in the number of participants when he left. Bill was the moving force in setting up statewide scheduling meetings, establishing a commissioner's system of assigning athletic officials, and developing a game contract system to be used throughout the state. A consummate professional, Bill served on numerous boards and committees at the local, state, and national levels. He was a leading athletic administrator in the entire New England area as attested by his multiple NH AD-of-the-Year awards, induction into the NHIAA Hall of Fame, and the prestigious National Distinguished Service Award he received from the National AD Association in 1981.
After 38 years as a coach, educator, and administrator, Bill enjoyed a long retirement with his wife Jane, who he had met at UNH and married in 1952, and before their clock ran out the two had taken 28 cruises together, traveled the world, spent 20 years as snowbirds summering in Wakefield, NH and wintering in Naples, FL., walked, swam, and golfed year round, worked on their tans until doctor's orders forbid it, and spent lots of time with their family at their camp on Great East Lake.
Bill was preceded in death by his two older brothers, Richard and Robert, and his best friend, his loving wife Jane who died four months ago. Bill and Jane are remembered by their children as the perfect couple who created a blueprint for marriage that really works. They spent quality time with their children, laughed together, loved together, did everything together, and lived long lives together. They are back together again.
Bill Sr. is survived by his three children: Bill Jr. and his wife Sherry of Concord, NH, Tom and his wife Katherine of Bow, NH, and Jane Poitras and her husband Donald of Pembroke, NH. He was the proud grandfather of Katie, Kristen, Jennifer, Billy, Elizabeth, DJ, Bridget, and Tommy, and great-grandfather to eight girls and four boys.
In honor of Bill's life, memorial visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, October 6th, from 5 to 7PM at the Waters Funeral Home, South Main Street, Concord, NH .
A private family "Celebration of Life," in place of a service will be held, due to his many friends not being able to attend, given that they have beaten him to the Pearly Gates.
A special thank you to the Home Instead Senior Care staff of caregivers that took such good care of Bill during the past few years, and to the people at Havenwood Health Services Center for their loving care and support during his final days.
In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to Havenwood Heritage Heights, Residents Support Fund, 33 Christian Ave, Concord, NH 03301