Bill Hearne, R.I.P.

The Rochester area lost a solid citizen on Thursday. Bill Hearne died while climbing Mt. McKinley in Alaska at the age of 61

He was one of the founders of the Oven Door Runners that runs on Saturday mornings at 6:30am (7am in January) year round from the Hitching Post Plaza in Bushnell’s Basin.

For the couple of years I ran with them, he was always there bright and early, and managed to be cheerful at that ungodly hour. Rain, shine or snow, he would have some challenging route picked out that would take an hour or two (or more) out of your early Saturday morning, and we would grab coffee and pastries afterwards at the Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters. (Mark Roberts captured the Saturday morning Bill very well in his 2003 piece – My First Long Run.)

Bill was also involved with music – he was a member of Mercury Opera Rochester, and would promote their performances to the running community – a “new age” form of cross-pollination bringing culture to the running heathens.

A “hail fellow, well met” , a Kodaker, an engineer – a true Renaissance Man in every sense of the word – he will be sorely missed.

Update – May 17, 2009:
In doing a post about Eva Cassidy, I was struck by how she was taken from this life years too soon, in much the same way many feel about Bill’s passing.

I’d like to think he might have enjoyed her version of the traditional Irish tune:         Danny Boy

Bill certainly had all the great spirit of a fine Irish fellow!