It was the handshake that got me. It was the first week of my first job in the newspaper business at the Aroostook Republican & News, a weekly newspaper in Caribou.

Leaning on the office counter on this late summer day was Gerry Duffy, Caribou High’s boys basketball coach. He was smiling as he talked to his wife, Jean, our office manager, a wonderful, kind and caring woman who always made us laugh.

Jean introduced me to Gerry as “our new reporter who played a little basketball for Stearns a while back.”

Gerry’s big strong hand then totally swallowed mine as he welcomed me to town with a handshake and pat on the back. His hand and huge forearm – now it was clearer how he could drive baseballs out of ballparks – could have easily crushed mine but he held back and delivered a firm handshake that made me feel like I belonged in town.

Meeting Gerry was a big moment for me. Growing up in the 1960s and ’70s, we looked up to the players and coaches on high school teams. We modeled ourselves after them.

As a player, there were coaches I always admired and respected.

Gerry Duffy was at the top of that list.

Of course, anyone who has played sports has to admit to having an ego and I wondered if Gerry would remember me.

He didn’t disappoint.

“You were on that Brewster and Baron team,” he said in reference to my two classmates, Gary Brewster and Mike Baron, the two main reasons for our success in 1977.

We had success against Gerry’s teams in those days, but the games were an intense 32 minutes. We could never let up. If we did, an eight-point lead became a two-point lead.

In the few years that followed on the newspaper, it didn’t take long to understand why Gerry’s teams were successful. His practices stressed the fundamentals. While attending some, I marveled at the skills and discipline of his players. At some of the practices the first 30 minutes consisted of the players rotating from station to station, with just a blow of the whistle from Gerry.

He always put his players first and they respected him. I think they understood that he could see the world of sports not only through the eyes of an accomplished coach but as a talented athlete. I was fortunate to sit next to him when we watched some baseball games on TV, and I am still amazed at the nuances and details he could point out.

Gerry welcomed me to any practice I chose to attend. I’d always call ahead as a courtesy, but it was always the same response of “no problem, come on over.”

Since it was my first job, it was difficult for me to gauge how coaches dealt with the media. In the years that have followed, I’ll always cherish those early days with Gerry because he was refreshingly candid, fair, and accessible.

A reporter can’t ask for more.

Besides the practices and games on the basketball court, however, I saw Gerry also in those days as a loving and caring husband and father, as well as a good friend to many in the community. He had that special way of letting a person know that he cared. When you talked, he would listen and his words were always sincere.

When I accepted my new job at the BDN 22 years ago, Gerry was sincere again when he wished me luck and hoped we could work together again.

Then he gave me a firm handshake and pat on the back.

Sports editor Joe McLaughlin can be reached at 990-8229, 1-800-310-8600, or jmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net