Other Notices

My best friend during my years at law school died of cancer after leading a remarkable life that could be the subject of a great novel or film. Bill Nyrop was one of the world's best athletes. He was a world-class player at most sports, from hockey to football and raquetball to bicycle racing - and even pool. He helped the Montreal Canadiens win several Stanley Cups and was inducted into the National Hockey League's Hall of Fame. He played for the Notre Dame University football team, played raquetball as well as the top international players, enjoyed backcountry and downhill skiing, and just about every other sport. Well, there was one sport I couldn't get him to play - soccer.

Bill was gifted in the sense that he could run a marathon in decent time or ride 100 miles on a bike at top speed without seeming to get out of breath even once, and also perform quite a few bench press reps with 400 to 500 pounds, and squat over 1000 pounds.

He helped teach me how to train like a professional in sports and helped motivate me throughout law school. On the law school classroom blackboards, we kept a running score of our yearly tennis standings. He was known as Bjorn (after Bjorn Borg) and I was called Jimmy (for Jimmy Connors). We had some battles, and the loser would always have to treat the other player to a meal at the local buffet restaurant.

Aside from sports, Bill was a dynamic personality who was always upbeat. You could never be down when you were around him. One of his favorite sayings during long mountain hikes or bike rides was, "it's great to be alive!" Bill was also a very good law student with unlimited potential to succeed personally and to help others. At the end of law school Bill married a wonderful gal named Mandy (who was also a great coach at the university as well as a superb athlete). I was honored to be the best man at their wedding. Bill and Mandy had two daughters. The first time I saw his kids, I could tell that they were destined for greatness. At the end of law school, Bill opened his own law practice. At the same time, he bought and coached a minor league hockey team, which became the best in the league under his leadership.

Bill never told me that he was sick, and I didn't find out that he had died until I read a report in the Washington Post. Mandy said that he didn't want to burden his friends. Bill once told me that death is simply part of life. It's nature. He never looked back. His philosophy was summed up as follows. "You are only as good as your last game." And Bill was great.

Official Stats

Montreal Canadiens 1975-1978
Minnesota North Stars 1981-1982
United States National Team 1977
Defenseman
Born: July 23, 1952, Washington D.C.

An outstanding defenseman, Bill Nyrop reached the top in all phases of hockey as a player. He was an outstanding athlete at Edina (Minn.) High School, where he led his Hornets to a state championship in 1969 over fellow enshrinee Henry Boucha's Warroad Warriors in the title game. He was also an All-State selection that year as well.

From there Nyrop enrolled at the University of Notre Dame, where he played from 1970-74. The defenseman tallied 99 points during his tenure for the Fighting Irish and earned All-American honors.

In 1972 Nyrop was selected as the 66th player in the NHL entry draft by the Montreal Canadiens. After his illustrious collegiate career, he was assigned to Nova Scotia of the American Hockey League, where he played for two seasons. In 1976 Nyrop was elevated to the parent team in Montreal, where he played for three consecutive Stanley Cup championship teams and was selected as a 1978 NHL All-Star.

Nyrop then retired in 1979 to pursue a law degree but was persuaded to play one more NHL season with the Minnesota North Stars in 1981. Upon playing one more NHL season in Germany, he hung em' up for good, finishing his NHL career with 63 points.

After getting his law degree, Nyrop returned to hockey in 1992 as the general manager of the Knoxville (Tenn.) East Coast Hockey League club. In addition, he later founded the West Palm Beach (Fla.) team in the Sunshine Hockey League.

Then, tragically, the hockey world was shocked when Bill Nyrop died of cancer at the age of 43. Always a remarkable physical specimen, he became ill in August of 1995 and passed away four months later on December 31, 1995. He was truly one of the good guys.