Paul Gaddini, the North Coast Section’s commissioner for 28 years before he retired in 2000, has died, the section announced on Tuesday.
The NCS received the news about Gaddini’s passing just before Thanksgiving break, current commissioner Pat Cruickshank said.
Gaddini would have turned 84 this week.
“He was the first NCS Commissioner of the modern era and ushered in Section Championships in many sports back in 1975,” Cruickshank wrote in an email. “Words that I have heard over the past few days describing Paul have been leader, mentor, kind, gentle. It is clear that he was well respected throughout our section and the state.”
At the time of his retirement, Gaddini told this news organization that the inclusion of girls sports and playoffs were among the achievements that made him proud. He also noted how meetings changed during his time in the section office.
“The job turned out to be different than I thought it would be,” Gaddini said. “Decisions were made by the person. If you called (prior commissioner) Phil (Hempler) with an eligibility question, he would say eligible or not eligible. Then you called the coach and told him eligible or not eligible.
“When I came in, due process became an issue. People became less likely to accept decisions. I think it’s been good to be held accountable.”
Gaddini spread his beliefs beyond the NCS.
“We were the renegade section,” he said. “We had a different vision. What I like now is the vision of inclusiveness. I’ve tried to have an environment where people were encouraged to state their opinions. Even if those opinions weren’t in step with the majority.”
Former North Coast Section commissioner Paul Gaddini dies at 83
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