One of the finest human beings you would ever meet. RIP. Love you, TL.
Please share your stories.
One of the finest human beings you would ever meet. RIP. Love you, TL.
Please share your stories.
May the road to heaven rise to meet you, Mushy Irishman.
I only met him a couple of times and didn't know him well. But everyone I know who knew him well just loved him. Sorry for the loss of your friend. Had he been sick for a while? I see that he died of "complications" which suggests he had but I got Facebook Friends request from him maybe two weeks ago.
Yes Tommy had a few events (respiratory) over the last six months. In the last few days he was in rapid decline. Just a wonderful man. The Patron Saint of Road Racing.
Sorry I didn't really get to know him. It just never quite worked out that I was in the places he was when he was there.
LRC is a little slow on this piece of news and it really belongs on the front page. I was saddened to hear last night that Tommy Leonard died yesterday at age 85. He had been in ill health for awhile. He died in Falmouth where he had been residing and working as a bartender which was his appropriate profession. Tommy was iconic in Boston and the New England Running community as he was the bartender at the Eliot Lounge in Boston since about 1972. Tommy ran at least 20 Boston Marathons and was one of the most likable guys you would ever want to meet. For you youngsters, the Eliot Lounge became the "runners headquarters bar" in Boston for several decades until it closed down because I believe the building was sold/demolished. A very sad day! More importantly to me, Tommy Leonard was one of the co-founders of the famous Falmouth Road Race down on Cape Cod. That is where I knew him best. RIP Tommy Leonard, ex-Marine, ex-marathoner, bar tender extraordinaire, my friend, and all around good guy. I will attach a tribute blog that our mutual good friend Toni Reavis posted today. Toni knew Tommy as well as anybody did...
https://tonireavis.com/2019/01/17/r-i-p-tommy-leonard-1933-2019/
Sorry, Malmo, but did not see your thread here when I started to write as I saw the LRC did not have a story about Tommy's death on their front page. LRC has my permission to take my thread down and combine it with this one if they wish. I agree with your assessment and appreciation of Tommy Leonard. I thank you for posting all of the above. Including the blog from Toni which I attached to my posting. The other stories are wonderful as well. Tommy Leonard certainly fills the bill as an "Icon of New England Road Racing" between his role as chief bartender at the Eliot Lounge (since 1972?) and Co-Founder of the Falmouth Road Race (which is where I first met him back in 1978.) I think he ran at least 20 Boston Marathons himself. He was always so appreciative of what it took to become an elite runner/racer and stay there! I never heard him say one bad word about anyone else... or vice versa! He was just so kind and empathetic …. which is probably what made him one helluva bartender! One of my most favorite recent memories was when you and several people flew him out to Eugene for the U.S. Olympic T & F Trials in Eugene as he had never been there before. He was the life of the barbeque party that night and week! My life...and the sport of running... are both better off today for having known Tommy Leonard! RIP Tommy...
Craig Virgin wrote:
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Holy sh it!!! Craig virgin post on letsrun!
Thank you, Craig.
I still have a pint glass that Tommy gave me on my desk. It is inscribed "Marathon Memories, April 9, 1996"-which I believe was the night that the Eliot Closed? My father had taken me into the Eliot, as there was a function to mark the closing and it was snowing like crazy outside. Tommy literally knew everyone in the packed bar by first name and introduced me to them all. As the night wore on, and Tommy continued to introduce me to people, he would take a good five or ten seconds of my mile time, which I gladly did not correct him on!
Both of my parents have stories of Tommy that go back years from Boston to summers in Falmouth and were saddened to learn of his passing. He was a Marine, a runner and the nicest guy you will ever meet.
KRG
Kevin Gray wrote:
I still have a pint glass that Tommy gave me on my desk. It is inscribed "Marathon Memories, April 9, 1996"-which I believe was the night that the Eliot Closed? My father had taken me into the Eliot, as there was a function to mark the closing and it was snowing like crazy outside. Tommy literally knew everyone in the packed bar by first name and introduced me to them all. As the night wore on, and Tommy continued to introduce me to people, he would take a good five or ten seconds of my mile time, which I gladly did not correct him on!
Both of my parents have stories of Tommy that go back years from Boston to summers in Falmouth and were saddened to learn of his passing. He was a Marine, a runner and the nicest guy you will ever meet.
KRG
Lucky's son?
Lucky's son?[/quote]
Yes. Lucky is not very computer savvy, but reminded me of the story today.
Kevin Gray wrote:
Lucky's son?
Yes. Lucky is not very computer savvy, but reminded me of the story today.[/quote]
He was a very good runner and patriot. Last time I saw him was in Birmingham for the OM trials. I remember very clearly one night when we had a bachelor party for a mutual friend and Marine (John L) and Lucky showed up in full Marine blues with the sword! Tell him I said hi and warm regards.
RIP TL...
I had the pleasure of meeting Tommy in April 2015, Boston Marathon weekend at the Eliot. Warm and friendly man. A natural story teller. He will be missed.
Thanks for starting this, Malmo, and IMHO it should be a front page thread. There are few glimmers left of the the kind of magic, grit, and comraderie that was the US 70's running boom. TL not only embodied that, but he also helped usher it in. I met Tommy many times. My fondest memory was one night after the Falmouth Road Race when he meandered down the road from the QuarterDeck to Liam Maguires. We shared a few pints, and in, true Tommy Leonard fashion, had me feeling as if I was the center of the world at the moment. He had that sort of magical effect on people. He called me "an angel, truly sent from Heaven". No, Tommy, you were the Angel sent from Heaven to grace all of us for a bit with your gift that was you. RIP
RIP: D3 All-American Frank Csorba - who ran 13:56 in March - dead
RENATO can you talk about the preparation of Emile Cairess 2:06
Rest in Peace Adrian Lehmann - 2:11 Swiss marathoner. Dies of heart attack.
I think Letesenbet Gidey might be trying to break 14 this Saturday
Running for Bowerman Track Club used to be cool now its embarrassing