For Eileen Doherty, instructing new
referees, coaching young players in a
variety of sports and encouraging lay
directors and coaches throughout our
South Central CYC District was truly a
way of life…
Born and raised in the Bronx, New
York, Eileen learned early on the
importance of generously sharing her God-given gifts. While playing varsity
volleyball, basketball and track in high school, she made the time to coach three
of her younger sisters’ parochial sports teams. Later, she organized basketball
referees throughout the Bronx, initiated an instructional basketball program for
1st and 2nd graders, and taught skiing and a variety of other sports for the Oxford
Special Olympics in Connecticut; all while working for 31 years installing first pay
phones and later fiber optic cables for Verizon. On her rare free nights and
weekends, she could be found on the sidelines of fields throughout Connecticut
and New York, cheering on her 17 nieces and nephews at a myriad of sporting
events. And that was just her first 50 years!
In January 2003, accompanied by her three dogs, a love of the NY Mets and all
things Irish and the willingness to volunteer wherever she was needed, Eileen
moved to St. Louis. In the last 12 years, she managed to get involved in just about
every aspect of CYC sports. From the beginning, she stepped up to coach
volleyball, basketball and softball at Sacred Heart in Valley Park. Later, when they
needed a high jump coach, she again accepted the challenge, spending hours
watching DVDs on the proper techniques for the high jump. To her credit, a
number of her jumpers went on to jump successfully throughout high school.
Eileen also became active in the Athletic Association at Sacred Heart, first as the
parish registrar and then as its president. Outside of her parish involvement,
Eileen worked at the district level as both the parish lay director and the president
of South Central volleyball. And, if that were not enough to keep her busy, she
trained the volleyball referees and score keepers both at her parish and
throughout the district.
In addition, it is well known that Eileen possessed a special talent of “inviting”
people to step up and get involved. Anyone foolish enough to make eye contact
with her found themselves coaching a volleyball team or two. Yet, even in that,
she was always there with anyone who needed help. On any given night
throughout the months of August-November, you would typically find her in the
gym, coaching, encouraging, and leading. Eileen was not afraid to stand up for the
truth, even when that was not popular or easy to do. In that way, she earned the
respect of parents, players and coaches throughout the district. Eileen was a
MSHSAA referee for high school volleyball, taking the time to instruct and
encourage the student line judges and score keepers. She had an amazing ability
to remember everyone’s name, and in that way, she was able to make each
person with whom she worked feel special and known. Maybe what best testifies
to her selfless generosity is the fact that she gave her time and talents without
ever having a child of her own in the CYC program. Her legacy truly challenges us
all to get involved, to share our talents, to be Christ for others.