Obituary of Robert William Kalbaugh

husband of Margaret (Peg) Kalbaugh passed away on Saturday, September 14, 2013 at home. He is also survived by his children, Bill Kalbaugh (Sharon) of Greensboro, NC and Mary Ann (Chuck) Naso of Chambersburg, PA; three grandsons Michael (Jennifer), Daniel (Rebecca) and Robert (Carole); a granddaughter, Kathryn; and his sister, Carolyn Aldrich of Mechanicville, NY as well as a niece and nephews. His family also counts among his survivors, the many loyal basketball players from RPI and Mechanicville High School whom he always called "his kids." Bill was the son of the late Aubrey and Irene Kalbaugh. Bill Kalbaugh enjoyed a great coaching career as well as personal success as an athlete. He played basketball, baseball and football at Mechanicville High School. Bill moved on to Springfield College in Massachusetts where he majored in physical education and continued playing basketball and baseball on his college teams. While a student at Springfield, his baseball talents drew the attention of the legendary Branch Rickey who recruited Bill for the Brooklyn Dodger's organization. During his summer breaks from college he played for the Durham (NC) Bull's in the Dodger's farm system. With the advent of World War II, Bill joined the Navy after college graduation and was assigned to Sampson Naval Base in the Finger Lakes where he continued playing baseball and basketball on the Sampson base teams. When the war ended, Bill re-joined the Dodger organization and was sent to their team in Nashua, New Hampshire. That team was managed by future Dodger major league manager, Walter Alston; two of Bill's teammates were Dodger greats Roy Campanella and Don Newcomb. When a shoulder injury ended the baseball career of this shortstop, Bill returned to Springfield College for his master's degree. After one year coaching high school and teaching physical education in Guilford, Connecticut, Bill returned to his alma mater Mechanicville High School as a teacher and coach. It was there that his skills as a basketball coach came to the forefront. Twice his Mechanicville squads won the Section II, Class B crown. His "Whiz Kids" won thirty straight and thirty-eight out of thirty-nine games. Bill and the "Whiz Kids" still remain in the happy memories of many proud Mechanicville natives. After success as a high school coach, Bill took his coaching and teaching talents to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy where he remained for thirty-four years. His RPI teams won seven league titles and qualified for the NCAA Division III tournament four times. While at RPI, he was awarded the Howard Schoenfield Sportsmanship Award by the College Basketball Officials Association. He was named the Capital District Coach of the Year in 1970 and District I College Coach of the Year in 1975. The basketball coaching suite in the new RPI sports complex is named for him. Bill was inducted into the RPI Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986. In 2005, he was inducted into the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame. Throughout the years Bill has been an avid golfer. At age 57 he was the oldest golfer to win the men's club championship at Troy Country Club. Bill and his wife Peg (Frawley) moved to Elmira, NY upon his retirement from RPI. Friends are invited to McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W. Water Street, Elmira, on Monday, September 16, 2013 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 8:45 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1100 W. Church Street, Elmira. Military honors will be held outside of the church after the Mass. Interment will take place in St. Peter's Cemetery, Wellsboro PA.