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When Adrian Gilmore walked into a classroom or onto a soccer field, she had a way of making every student feel like they mattered most.
Whether it was a handwritten note slipped to a sixth-grader who needed encouragement or a calm, steady nod she gave from the sidelines during a tense playoff match, her presence offered safety and steadiness.
This week, that presence — “a mentor, a listener, and a light in so many lives” — was heartbreakingly lost.
Gilmore, a sixth-grade teacher at Albert G. Prodell Middle School in East Shoreham and the varsity girls soccer coach at Shoreham-Wading River High School, died on Thursday, two days after suffering a medical episode in front of her students. She was 42.
Her sudden passing has shaken the Shoreham-Wading River community, where Gilmore spent nearly two decades shaping the minds and building confidence in countless young lives — so many of whom stayed in touch with her long after graduation.
The impact of her loss is being felt far beyond the school district.
Gilmore is a William Floyd High School graduate who in Mastic. She and her family have been deeply active in the school district, which is mourning alongside the community she served. And across Long Island, the high school sports world has been devastated by the loss of the highly admired coach.
“Our family has suffered an unimaginable loss,” reads a statement on a GoFundMe page launched to support Gilmore’s family. “Adrian wasn’t just a teacher in the classroom or a coach on the field; she was a mentor, a listener, and a light in so many lives. She believed in people, lifted them up, and encouraged them to be their best. ”
Devoted mother, teacher and coach
Gilmore is survived by her husband, Tim, who is a boys basketball coach with Shoreham-Wading River, and their three children — Kayla, Cameron and Colby. Her eldest, Kayla, is a freshman on the University of Maryland’s women’s lacrosse team, a top-ranked Division I program.
“She was the heart of her family; faithful, selfless, and strong. Her absence is deeply felt by all who knew and loved her,” reads the GoFundMe statement. “Her husband Tim is … doing his best to care for their family while grieving this profound loss. We are coming together to support him and the children with funeral expenses, daily needs, and time to heal — emotionally, spiritually, and financially.”
The GoFundMe campaign — “In Her Honor: Supporting a Devoted Mother, Teacher & Coach” — has raised more than $110,000 since Thursday, with more than 1,100 donations pouring in from friends, former students and families she touched over the years.
Along with her success at the head of the classroom, Gilmore built a highly successful coaching career, leading the Wildcats varsity girls soccer team to multiple league championships and a Suffolk County title. In 2019, she was named United Soccer Coaches Regional High School Coach of the Year for the East Region.
“Adrian touched the lives of countless students, athletes, colleagues, friends and family members,” the GoFundMe campaign reads. “She had a unique gift for making everyone feel seen, heard and valued.”
Shoreham-Wading River School District Superintendent Gerard Poole, in a letter to the community, called Gilmore “a dedicated and passionate educator” and “an outstanding coach, mentor, and source of inspiration to many generations,” according to a News12 report.
Legacy of grace and strength
Her legacy, the GoFundMe post adds, is “full of grace, strength and a deep love for others.”
“She poured her heart into everything she did, whether she was raising her children, nurturing her students, or guiding her athletes,” the statement reads.
Memorial service plans for Gilmore had not yet been announced as of Friday afternoon.
Top photos: Adrian Gilmore standing with her husband Tim and their three children, and Gilmore (inset) — Facebook.
