Gregoire made lasting impact

Special to the Breeze Bill Gregoire, who passed away unexpectedly from an apparent heart attack last week, is remembered for many things, including his smile, which was on display here as Bill monitored one of his youth softball teams.
When Bill Gregoire spoke, often instructing young athletes on area softball or soccer fields, people listened. He was respected by players and fellow coaches alike for the knowledge he brought to the game and the manner in which he relayed it.
Even when Gregoire wasn’t speaking, it was his bright white teeth and contagious smile that won over his players, his friends, his family – all those who knew him best.
“He was just a once-in-a-lifetime person,” said Robin Holloway, a close friend. “He knew how to get on the kids’ level in a way that I’ve never seen before.”
Gregoire, 48, passed away unexpectedly last Tuesday of an apparent heart attack while vacationing in West Virginia. The Cape Coral resident is survived by his wife, Mayra, and his two children, Jessica and Joseph.
Gregoire, a construction foreman and former police officer, was an outstanding high school athlete. He coached several sports over the past 10 years, including youth softball and baseball, as well as youth soccer and basketball in Cape Coral.
As a coach of the Cape Coral Xtreme and Cape Fear fastpitch softball programs, Gregoire’s teams won numerous championships.
Jim Ross, who coached for several years with him, said Gregoire knew how to strike the perfect balance between having fun and putting in the time needed to be successful.
“Bill and I had a similar motto that ‘if it isn’t fun, we want no damn part of it,'” Ross said. “With Bill there was never a lot of pressure. His coaching style was let’s work hard and have fun.”
Ross said the Cape Xtreme softball team won about eight championships in the U14 division and Gregoire encouraged the group to move up and compete at the U18 level. Though it was more of a challenge, they went on to win tournaments at that level, too.
A trademark of Gregoire’s teams, whether it was travel ball or all-stars at the Burton Park Softball Complex, included staying after practice for extra work. Often until all the lights were out.
Even when an opposing player needed help, Gregoire was there to mentor and encourage.
“The athletes that played for and against him always knew where to look if they needed any assistance,” said Donnie Hare, who coached with Gregoire. “Whether it meant staying after practice for extra work on their particular skill, to toss or kick a ball or just to kill some time while waiting for a parent to pick up their child. Many nights he was seen at the field until only the lights being turned out chased him off.”
Gregoire married his loving wife Mayra on March 19, 1988. His daughter, Jessica, 17, is a junior at Ida Baker high school, ranking second in her class.
As a sophomore, Jessica emerged as one of the area’s top pitchers. She had an 11-3 record with 123 strikeouts and a 1.16 earned-run average, helping the Bulldogs earn their first-ever regional appearance.
His son, Joseph, 8, plays youth baseball in Cape Coral.
Loved ones were present last Sunday at a funeral service at Coral Ridge Funeral Home. Included were hundreds of players he coached, even from several years ago.
“I met him seven or eight years ago at Burton (Field) and there were girls there he coached back then,” Robin Holloway said. “That’s the kind of impact he had.”
Jamie Ross, a senior at Ida Baker and one of Gregoire’s former players, said he was always there and brought a great attitude along with that winning smile.
“As a coach he always made it fun and had a big smile on his face,” she said. “He made it fun and serious at the same time. That’s what everyone liked about him.”