Julie Meade, the Carlmont High School cross-country, track and field, and girls junior varsity basketball coach unexpectedly passed away on Oct. 4.
Meade was a Carlmont alumni and was a part of the cross-country, track and field, and basketball teams. Her name is on the 1990 Hall of Fame banner in the Carlmont Stogner Gym for cross-country.
“For her to be able to come back and coach her alma mater was like a dream come true,” said Patrick Smith, the Carlmont athletics director.
As a coach, Meade was well-known by many people in the Carlmont community. According to Patrick Smith, Carlmont’s staff, teachers, and coaches all knew her, and he said they always sent him emails saying how much of a positive and engaged person she was.
She was always there for her teams and would encourage and guide them when no one else did.
“I remember I would be at the starting line and I couldn’t really hear other people encouraging me. But, when I started running, really the only person that was guiding me through it was her and it was so special,” said Emily Song, a junior at Carlmont High School and a member of the track and field and girls varsity cheerleading teams.
Her presence and guidance also inspired many people.
“She pushed me to be a better athlete,” Song said. “She always knew the right thing to say, and that’s the kind of person I want to be, not just as a runner, but as a person in general.”
Not only was Meade incredibly engaged with her own teams, but she was also involved in sports that she didn’t coach.
“She was always willing to help our athletes in whatever way she could,” Patrick Smith said.
Her death shocked many people, and Song says she believes that shows how much of an impactful and inspirational person Meade was.
Many athletes at Carlmont sent their respects to her over social media after hearing the news of her death. Her former teammates from when she was a Carlmont student-athlete also responded to a post about Meade made by the Carlmont Athletics account.
“I also ran XC (cross-country) and track with Julie and @growwith.anabella from ’87-’90. Her sense of humor and laughter were infectious. She made all of those Friday long runs in XC fun and track meets a blast. Rest In Peace Julie,” wrote Suzanne Smith.
Despite the news of her death, Meade’s teams still went to practice the next day. She had a definite “no” stance on missing practice, and according to Josh Schaefer, the cross-country coach, she would want her teams to keep going even in a bad moment.
“She wouldn’t want you to pause life. You can mourn somebody and pay your respects to them, and for her, that would be to keep doing what you’re doing. Keep working hard. Keep dedicating yourself to what you really enjoy doing. Achieve your goals by persevering. A bad moment can become a good moment by continuing along the path that she helped you get on,” Patrick Smith said.
