Linda Broderick Gill
June 3, 1958- Aug 28, 2017
Linda Broderick Gill, a longtime Marin athlete, coach, friend, wife, and mother, passed away peacefully on August 28, surrounded by her husband and four daughters. She was 59 years old.
Linda was born on June 3, 1958 in Mill Valley, California to Louetta and William Broderick. Linda attended Tamalpais High School, where she developed what would become a lifelong passion for running the trails of Marin County. Under the mentorship of Coach Bruce Grant, in addition to establishing Tamalpais High School Records in the mile and 800m which stand to this day, she won the prestigious CIF High School State Championships in the mile in 1976. She held the County record for 39 years. In a recent email, Mr. Grant wrote to Linda, “It was obvious to me that my greatest single thrill in track ever was watching you break away from the pack and sprint to the state championship in the mile.”
She continued her athletic career at UCLA, where she was an All-American and member of the 1977 NCAA Division 1 Cross Country National Championship team. Linda excelled at a variety of races both locally and throughout the country including winning the fastest women’s trophy and multiple top-35 black tee shirts at Marin’s famous Dipsea race and was a two-time Fifth Ave Mile champion. Most recently, she finished 11th in the world at the 800m finals at the 2011 USATF Master’s World Championships. She was inducted into the Marin County Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame.
Linda’s love for competing and mentoring young people spilled over to coaching high school cross country and track at Branson , Drake, and Marin Catholic High Schools, as well as to help train individual athletics in the community. Linda could inspire athletes to rise to athletic performances beyond their current level of skill or fitness, and facilitated a strong work ethic and desire to compete while having fun in the process. She continued this passion by founding Ran Marin which helped train young athletes at all levels as well as help to preserve the rich heritage of the Marin County running community. She was well-loved by her athletes and continued to be a part of their lives.
More than anything else Linda loved her family and raising her four daughters. As wife and mother she included unconditional love and an infectious love of life in everything she did. She loved passing on to them the family values that were shared by her parents Lou and Bill. Holiday traditions were especially important to her. She faced her illness with the same determination, passion, and grace that she lived her life. She enjoyed the many simple things in life like early morning sunrises, coffees with her many friends, and long Sunday runs. The sound of her voice will forever echo and grace the mountains, lakes, and trails of Marin County.
She is survived by her loving husband Michael, daughters Liz, Caitlin, Caroline and Natalie, step daughter Jennifer, grandchildren Mckenna, Gregory and Michael, and sisters Bonnie and Jill. A Memorial Mass will be held at Saint Anselm’s Church Ross at 11:00 AM Friday September 15th 2017. Reception to follow. Donations can be made to the UCSF Foundation Department of Neurological Surgery.