Remembering William “Bill” Fortin
Written by John Van de Vaarst
William “Bill” Fortin
March 31, 1936 – July 10, 2024
Bill Fortin was a long-time member of NISOA and a fixture in college and high school soccer in Connecticut. He was a well-respected member of NISOA who gave countless hours to the organization. He was always willing to do whatever he could to help the organization grow. A true professional who believed in the core values of NISOA. Bill served as president of NISOA from 1989 – 1991. He also held several other administrative positions throughout his tenure. During the time period of NISOA having voting rights at the U.S. Soccer, then USSF, Bill was the NISOA liaison with USSF. He attended the annual meeting and always had input into the betterment of soccer officiating.
For many years, Bill was the Camp Director of the Elizabethtown Training Camp. Each year he would devote his time to obtaining registrations, corresponding with campers and being on site for the entire camp. Anyone who ever attended the camp or served on staff will always remember Bill climbing up on a chair and leading the participants in an opening team building exercise.
Bill worked closely with the National Referee Program and served as Area Coordinator for Area I and always ensured every NRP candidate or member provided the necessary paperwork and met every requirement before he recommended the individual become or maintain their status in the program. He also served as a National Assessor and mentored many officials and provided a vast amount of assistance in their career advancement.
Bill also served on the NISOA Audit Team. Each year he worked with the team to review the finances of NISOA and ensured all expenditures were properly posted to the ledgers and approved for payment. He was meticulous when reviewing documents and insisted on a thorough review prior to final approval of the audit.
Bill attended almost every NISOA National Convention as the Region I representative. He provided interesting perspectives and always spoke out for what was right and what would make NISOA a better and stronger organization. He especially loved playing golf at the annual Larry Starner Memorial Tournament and having fun with the other players. His greatest joy during the tournament would be teasing his “rebel” fried from GA, Pierce Richardson. Pierce always called Bill “Yankee”. Their banter back and forth would bring laughter to all players.
For his continuous dedicated service to the organization, Bill was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame as a NISOA member in 1991 and in the same year received the Raymond E. Bernabei Honor Award. He has also inducted into the Manchester Sports Hall of Fame (1992), the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame (2005) and the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2011).
Bill spent over 30 years as a physical education teacher in the Ellington School system. In addition to teaching, Bill was heavily involved in the sporting community as a coach, a referee/umpire, an athletic director and an assignor of officials. He coached several teams at Ellington High School with highlights including leading the girls’ basketball team to over 300 wins and 4 state championships (3 as an assistant and 1 as a head coach), and the girls’ softball team to 2 state championships. From an officiating perspective, Bill refereed collegiate soccer at the highest levels, in addition to high school basketball, lacrosse, and umpiring baseball.
Later in life, Bill helped form an organization that became “Time It Right”. The group became the prominent organization for providing timers for intercollegiate basketball throughout New England. This group was also called upon to time many intercollegiate soccer games.
Bill will always be remembered by those in NISOA that had a chance to work with him and become a life long friend. He had the unique ability to touch each person’s life in a special way. As he always signed his Christmas Card “Play On!” Play on Bill – You will be missed.
