Former track coach commemorated with Samo track in his name

On Sunday, Aug. 25, students and both former and current Samo staff members gathered at Samo to celebrate the life and legacy of William “Pat” Cady, who passed away in June of this year. Cady was a former Samo and SMASH history and math teacher who later became the head coach for Samo’s track and field program.  Cady taught at SMASH for eight years, where he was responsible for coming up with his own history curriculum for 7th through 12th graders. Later, he moved on to teach at Samo until 2008, when he retired from teaching but continued coaching the track and field team. On June 8, Cady passed away while fighting against pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his two brothers, his wife, his daughter and two granddaughters, who all spoke at the ceremony. Family members, former colleagues, students and runners of his all celebrated his life. Peter Sawaya, who worked with Cady at both SMASH and Samo, was almost moved to tears as he remembered his friend and colleague. The pair had a long-lasting friendship, and would always find themselves on adventures outside of work. “We were on a quest to find the best burger in town. We had fun together. He was giving, caring and kind, and selfless in and out of the classroom,” Sawaya said.  Along with being a great friend, Cady was said to have been a powerful mentor. Current Head Track Coach Tania Fischer was only a teenager when she met Cady, but he remained an influential figure in her life until his last days. He encouraged her to teach art at Samo when she lost her job during the LAUSD strikes of 1989, and later helped her get a job as an assistant coach to his team. Similarly, English and history teacher Randy Denis saw Cady as someone who shaped him into the educator he is today.  “In my walks from the History Building to the Administration Building with Pat, I received more education about teaching than I ever had before. He was a walking, breathing demo on how to build relationships with students,” Denis said.  The ceremony ended with a trip to the track field, which was renovated this summer as an ode to Cady. The track boasts a bright blue color and a memorial to the man that gave it purpose for many years.