USATF Adirondack President Bill Quinlisk passes at the age of 70

(17-May) USATF Adirondack president Bill Quinlisk died peacefully last night after a heroic fight against cancer.  He was 70 years of age. Quinlisk was a resident of Delmar, N.Y and a long-time contributor to USA Track & Field and the sport.  He had served as the president of USATF Adirondack since 2019 and had also served as president of USATF Niagara in the late 2000's.  He is believed to be the only person to serve as president of two different USATF associations.

A graduate of St. John Fisher College, and having earned a M.Ed. from Nazareth College, Quinlisk devoted his career to cultivating young minds through teaching and coaching. He taught at St. Ambrose Elementary School, McQuaid Jesuit High School, and the Rochester City School District before retiring in 2009.

Quinlisk won numerus awards for his contributions to the running community, culminating with his 2021 induction into the USATF Masters Long Distance Running Hall of Fame.  

Quinlisk became involved with USATF in 1997 at the Annual Meeting in Dallas, TX. One of his first proposals was to establish the Masters Harrier of the Year awards and at the time of his death he was still chairing the selection committee. He has served as the national Masters Cross Country Representative continuously since 2005.  He served as the Vice-Chair of Masters LDR from 2009-2021 and then was elected to chair the committee this past December.  Bill also served as a member of the Cross Country Council Executive Committee.

The USATF family has lost a dedicated member of our community who gave so much to the sport he loved.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family,” said USATF CEO, Max Siegel.

He was the founding President of both the Greater Rochester Track Club (1973-1983) and the Genesee Valley Harriers (1996-2006).

He was the race director for six USATF National Cross Country Championships including the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships in 2005.  He is a USATF Master-level LDR Referee and served served as Referee for over 100 USATF National LDR and Cross Country Open and Master Championships. 

In addition to his work with USATF, he was a certified NY State High School track and field official since 1973. He is a past President of the Genesee Valley Certified High School Track & Field and Cross Country Officials Organization (Rochester, NY) and had served as their rules’ interpreter.

His awards and honors included:

• ​1977 NAIA District 31 Cross Country Coach of the Year (St. John Fisher College) 
• 1987 Rochester City-Catholic High School League, Track & Field Coach of the Year Award (McQuaid Jesuit HS, Rochester, NY)
• 1987 Greater Rochester Track Club Hall of Fame inductee (Rochester, NY)
• 1990 Monroe County High School League, Track & Field Coach of the Year Award (Greece Olympia HS, Rochester, NY)
• 2011 USATF Doris Heritage Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Sport of Cross Country 
• 2012 USATF Otto Essig Award for Meritorious Service to Masters Long Distance Running 
• 2021 USATF Adirondack Association Official of the Year Award
• 2021 USATF Masters LDR Hall of Fame inductee

Quinlisk will be remembered for his unassuming nature, his integrity, his infectious sense of humor, his love of storytelling, and his ability to make those in his presence feel valued. Bill showed it is possible to fulfill the Jesuit motto to be “a man for others” and have fun doing it.  

Quinlisk is predeceased by his father, Willam P. Quinlisk, Bill is survived by his wife Patricia Warth, his mother Barbara Quinlisk, his brothers John, Thomas (Liz), Daniel (Barbara), Dennis (Brenda), and James (Diane), his nieces and nephews John, Abigail, Andrew, Katherine, Amy, Colin, Andrew, Brian, and Michael, as well as his treasured life-long friends. 

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held July 2 in Rochester, with details posted here.

Donations in Bill’s honor can be made to Max Velocity (maxvelocity.org).

Letters and cards of condolences can be mailed to 20 Willow Dr., Delmar, NY 12054.