LYNN — North Shore Navigators General Manager Bill Terlecky has taken a medical leave of absence after being diagnosed with a “curable form of cancer,” the team announced Friday.
Terlecky will miss the entire season. Two Lynners — Joe Gill and Ashley Laramie — will work as co-GMs on an interim basis, according to the statement.
Terlecky, who worked in various capacities in baseball for 40 years, joined the Navigators in 2012 when Pat Salvi purchased the team.
“This is my 40th year in baseball. I am truly blessed,” said Terlecky. “Although I plan on continuing as general manager, given the current state of my health, the best decision is for me is to step away and focus on my health.”
Terlecky called Laramie and Gill “highly capable.” Laramie, a Lynn Classical graduate, has been with the organization for nine years, which makes her the longest tenured employee in the franchise. Gill, who graduated from St. Mary’s High and St. Anselm’s College, has been associated with the Navigators for eight seasons.
“We have an army of people who will fill in on a number of issues,” Terlecky said. “We don’t plan on missing a beat. Like I’ve told many people, running the Navs is not a job — it’s a way of life and something I plan on doing for many more seasons but for now, until my health is better, it’s time to go to the bullpen.”
Since Terlecky took over as GM, the organization has seen success both on and off the field. The franchise was named the Future Collegiate Baseball League’s (FCBL) organization of the year in 2015.
“We love Bill and we want him to take time to get better,” Salvi said. “In the meantime, we have every confidence in Joe and Ashley in making sure we do not miss a beat. We look forward to having Bill back in peak health to continue to be the best general manager there is.”
“Being with the organization for so long has taught me that no matter the circumstance, we will prevail,” said Laramie. “Over the last six years, Bill has built this team from a very tiny organization into one of the best organizations in New England.
“We will definitely miss his leadership at the ballpark,” said Laramie, who is a former softball coach at Fisher College. “But with the support of our fans and the community, the team will march on.”
Gill, an umpire who has worked at the Babe Ruth Softball World Series for the past several seasons, has been the team’s director of public relations for the past four summers.
“Make no mistake, the Navigators are where we are today not because of luck but because of the hard work and leadership of Bill Terlecky,” Gill said. “Our job will be to steer the ship straight until Bill is healthy enough to take back control. With the encouragement of our leadership team and continued support from the community, the Navs will continue to thrive.”
The Navigators will open their season at Fraser Field June 2.
