William Goering Obituary

Dear Monica,

It was my greatest joy and honor to have Bill as a coach. Bill had so much honor in everything that he did, and he wouldn't accept anything less out of me. I know I wanted to make him proud of me and show him I could make it in fencing because his opinion meant so much to me. Bill not only pushed me to do well, but made me push myself. He was like the last of the great swordsmen, with amazing skill and nobility. He looked at fencing with so much respect. Doing it well, and knowing that you are doing your best regardless of the outcome of the bout is all that was important. He was so much happier with me when I put my heart into a tough bout and fenced as hard as I could, even if I lost, then when I got a victory off of poor touch. He mentored me in how to fence and that taught me a lot about how to do well in school and in life. I feel like we've lost one of the greatest true fencers, and a great man. I will truly miss him.

Mrs. Goering,



I knew your husband briefly. I didn't know him as well as I would have liked. My parents knew him better. I enjoyed talking with him when I got the chance. Your family is in our prayers.



God bless you and your family,

I first met Bill when I was a young kid, wet behind the mask, fresh on the strip. He was one of the movers and shakers in the Mid-West now Great Lakes section. Without question, he was someone to look up to and emulate.



My favorite memory of Bill was moving back to Northern Ohio and attending a regional event. I had become one of the new women 'converts' to saber. I had the great fortune (misfortune if you look at the results) to have had Bill in my pool. He was always the gentleman, sportsman, and chivalrous competitor. He encouraged me. He assisted in anyway. I was floored at how 'hansome' a man he was despite my youthful remembrance of him. (I was but 14 when I first met him.)



Without question, he has been one of the greats of USFA. He will be missed. His loss definately is felt by those who knew him in his 'younger' days back here in the Great Lakes Section of USFA!. It has and will continue to take many to fit his footsteps.

Dear Monica,



My most heartfelt sympathy to you and your family.

I've been around fencing for all of my 47 years. Along the way, I've encountered all sorts of characters.

What I'll always remember about Bill was his character.

I'll always remember Bill for his integrity, honesty, and candor.

From a personal standpoint, Bill was my biggest supporter on the FOC. He propped me up when I was down and his numerous emails were not only supportive, but instructive.

I always responded to his health updates by saying, "God Bless you, Bill."

God Bless you, Bill.

Monica-

I feel incredibly lucky that I had the opportunity to have Bill as my coach (although I'm not sure he ever truly referred to himself as that). I still hear 'Guard right Mary!' every time I fence and my inability to sometimes retain his teachings just showed what a great mentor he was - his patience and willingness to continue working with me as long as I was willing to put in the time. I will miss him very much.

Monica,



Bill was one of my most important mentors, in my quest to become a quality referee.



His demand for correct behavior, adherence to the letter of the rules, and keeping description to a minimum are constantly with me.



I hope that I'm able to pass Bill's unique perspective along to the referees that I mentor.



Bill was a great friend and an excellent mentor of referees and fencers. He will be missed throughout the fencing world.



Bill Oliver

To all Bill's family and friends,

We were so very saddened by the news of Bill's illness and passing. He was such a strong and positive influence for all who knew him. We will always remember him as a great mentor in fencing. His graciousness and sportsmanship was unrivaled.

Our deepest condolences,

Brooke M Schneider and Michael S McCune

Dear Monica,



I was very saddened to receive the news of Bill Goering’s death. I have known Bill for over 50 years as a tough competitor, referee, administrator, and close friend. We met as opponents in 1952 when Bill fenced for Yale and I fenced for Columbia. We competed against each other in college meets for three years. In our senior year at the Intercollegiate Fencing Championships (IFA), one week before the NCAA, by accident I took his fencing bag home and he took mine since they looked identical from the outside. When we noticed the mistake I called Bill on the phone we arranged to exchange bags at the NCAA. Since we would both need clean uniforms at the NCAA we agreed that he would wash mine, and I washed his, before the exchange.



After graduation, Bill and I became close friends. Bill devoted his life to fencing as a volunteer, serving as an international competitor, international referee and administrator. Bill was Executive Vice President during my first administration 1972-1976 as USFA President (then called AFLA). Bill was also Vice President during my second administration from 1992-1996. Bill was a person of the highest integrity who could always be counted on for his sound judgment, experience, and fairness in whatever he undertook. I remember a humorous experience at one Junior Olympic Saber Competition. A young fencer came to the Bout Committee table with his father before the start of the event and demanded to know how they defined an attack. The bout committee was very busy and ordered him to leave. As he left, I told him to ask the referee before his first bout. I then made sure that Bill was assigned as the referee for his pool without saying anything to Bill. He approached Bill before the start of his first bout and asked, “What is an attack? Bill replied without hesitation, “The attack is whatever I call the attack. Now get on guard and fence.”



Bill has positively influenced the lives of many fencers who had the good fortune to come in contact with him. He will be missed, but the fine example he has set will always be remembered.



Steve Sobel

Past President, USFA

Past Vice President, USOC

Dear Monica,



We were very sorry to get the message from the Colorado Division about Bill. Although I haven't been fencing for a few years, I remember sharing many happy rides with Bill to the Denver club. He was always so frustrated that Margaret and I weren't more devoted to our fencing careers!



We're sure many friends and family are near at this sad time, but please don't hesitate to contact us if we can be of help in any way.



You're in our thoughts and prayers,

Brian Neuhauser and Margaret Kasahara

Dear Monica,

Don and I would like to express our deepest sympathies to you and your daughter. We were quite surprised to see Bill's announcement in the paper.

You've been in my thoughts often since you left our neighborhood. I'm home now if you need someone to talk or cry with you. I hope to hear from you soon.

Karen Rhodes and Don Hanlon

Monica,

I am saddened to hear of Bill's death and I will keep you and your family in my thoughts. Bill was a mentor, friend and teacher to many in Michigan fencing. He taught me how to fence, referee, compete, and carry oneself with dignity and respect. I will miss him greatly!



with sympathy,



Todd Dressell

Dear Monica,

We will miss Bill so very much. He was so giving to the sport of fencing and an inspiration to us all. On behalf of Colorado Fencing Academy we offer our condolences.

Sharol Pestotnik

Colorado Fencing Academy, Arvada

Dear Monica



Bill was a person who helped to mentor me and helped me to grow and develop through my life. He was a kind man, a great leader and a man that demonstrated his caring for people always.



He served as Chief of Mission of my first US Team back in 1972 at the junior worlds in Argentina. He mentored me as I grew up in the sport of fencing. I learned from him and he was always so supportive, especially when I became an officer and eventually president of U.S. Fencing. I miss him and will respect him always.

He was a great competitor, a great spirit to so many.



Sincerely,



Stacey Johnson

Dear Monica,

We are all deeply saddened by Bill's passing. He was a great friend and inspiration to all of us in the fencing world. I will never forget the first time I saw him fence in Overland Park with my then 14-year Cece Berman. Bill was the fastest person I had ever seen on a fencing strip! Most of all I remember Bill for his untold kindnesses and support to young people. His encouragement and leadership helped us all to be better people, just to earn his respect. We knew that he freely gave his friendship. He will be sorely missed. Blessings, Lelanda Lee

Monica,



We had the greatest pleasure knowing Bill. He was an inspiration to work with and a joy to be around. We are the luckiest family to have had the pleasure to build your home that Bill enjoyed. Our favorite was his own luxurious, temperature controlled workshop:). We are always thinking of you and are available anytime you need.



Love,



Allen Family

Monica,



I will always remember the appalled look on Bill's face during one trip to Notre Dame to officiate. We had been discussing cars (what else?), and he wanted to calibrate my odometer as I was driving. I said that I never paid attention to that, and he asked, "Well, how do you know when it's time to get your car serviced?"



"When it starts making funny noises" was apparently not the answer he was expecting.



Bill was a great friend and mentor, and he touched many lives in a very positive way.

Monica,



All of us back here in Michigan are greatly saddened with Bill's passing. It is difficult to relate in such a short space the number of people he touched and lives he enriched. I am fortunate to have had him as a mentor and friend.



Matthew Dosmann

Monica,

I am the secretary who works on the 10th floor at Penrose Hospital. Although I did not get the opportunity to take care of Bill, I did have the pleasure of seeing him doing his many rounds of walking on the floor. On behaf of the 10th floor, our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Kathi O'Rourke

Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. From all the members of New Monmouth Presbyterian Church in Lexington. (Elise Bick's home church)

Monica,



I was so sorry to hear about Bill's passing!!!

I learned so much about Fencing from Bill, not only during my time working in the USFA office, but later when we both work various tournaments.

I enjoyed our evening in your beautiful home many years ago!!!

I hope you have strength in your memories and remembering how much Bill loved you!!



Beth Lee (formerly of Colorado Springs)