R.I.P. Pat Petersen

kmaclam wrote:

Pat's two sons have autism. He & his wife are big advocates for providing services needed now for this population & created the EJ Autism Foundation to provide such services. Perhaps a donation in his name to the EJ Autism Foundation might be a way to honor his legacy.

I'm in.

Good Guy Pat wrote:

Petersen was indeed briefly considered the American record holder by whatever governing bodies said the record had to be set on a loop course. But Rodgers, Salazar, Meyer, and Beardsley had run faster in Boston or New York or both, and Petersen has adamant about not considering himself a record holder.

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I'm not sure what you're trying to get at? Petersen wasn't "considered" the American Record-holder, he was the outright AR holder. Downhill and short courses NEVER counted.

malmo wrote:

Good Guy Pat wrote:

Petersen was indeed briefly considered the American record holder by whatever governing bodies said the record had to be set on a loop course. But Rodgers, Salazar, Meyer, and Beardsley had run faster in Boston or New York or both, and Petersen has adamant about not considering himself a record holder.

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I'm not sure what you're trying to get at? Petersen wasn't "considered" the American Record-holder, he was the outright AR holder. Downhill and short courses NEVER counted.

Point-to-point courses for sure counted until the rule change. And while making the rule to not count point-to-point courses may have been a good decision, it should not have drawn such a bold line between the relative categories. Boston's "downhill" status only really counts on the rare occasions of a tail wind (1994 and 2011). And nobody considers NYC to be a fast course. Pat Petersen was indeed the bona fide "American Record Holder," but he also knew that he was not "better" than Shorter, Rodgers, Salazar, etc. He had a beautiful humility, and I miss rooting for him.

Pat Peterson did not have life insurance. Please consider donating via this gofundme site.

He was a wonderful human being. A really sad day.

http://www.gofundme.com/vrh2ts4m?fb_action_ids=10205092309921569&fb_action_types=og.shares&fb_ref=undefined&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B820883731328204%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.shares%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%22undefined%22%5D

Here is the wake and funeral info from Newsday.com:

PETERSEN - Patrick of East Islip, LI on May 31, 2015. Beloved husband of Bea Petersen. Loving father of Maggie, Jack, Eric & Joy. Cherished son of Henry & the late Patricia Petersen. Dear brother of Butch, Michael, Douglas & Edward Petersen. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews & cousins. Reposing at The Fredrick J. Chapey & Sons East Islip Funeral Home, 200 East Main Street (1/2 Mile West of the S.S. Parkway, Exit 45W). Celebration of the Liturgy of Christian Burial, Thursday 9:45 AM, at St. Mary's R.C. Church, East Islip, LI. Interment to follow. Visiting Wednesday 2:00 PM until 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM until 9:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pat's children at

http://www.gofundme.com/BeaPetersenFamily

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Published in Newsday on June 1, 2015

David Monti wrote:

Here is the wake and funeral info from Newsday.com:

PETERSEN - Patrick of East Islip, LI on May 31, 2015. Beloved husband of Bea Petersen. Loving father of Maggie, Jack, Eric & Joy. Cherished son of Henry & the late Patricia Petersen. Dear brother of Butch, Michael, Douglas & Edward Petersen. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews & cousins. Reposing at The Fredrick J. Chapey & Sons East Islip Funeral Home, 200 East Main Street (1/2 Mile West of the S.S. Parkway, Exit 45W). Celebration of the Liturgy of Christian Burial, Thursday 9:45 AM, at St. Mary's R.C. Church, East Islip, LI. Interment to follow. Visiting Wednesday 2:00 PM until 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM until 9:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pat's children at

http://www.gofundme.com/BeaPetersenFamily

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Published in Newsday on June 1, 2015

Thanks for posting this information, David. I've made a contribution - hope others who haven't already will consider doing so as well.

Pat’s amazing achievements and easy going style made him a hero to the Long Island running community.

In 1988 I took the opportunity to honor him when he participated in the Plainview 10k. My little company – Finish Line Road Race Technicians has the reputation for starting all of our races exactly on time to the second. But on that day at the start I announced (to the shock of all) that we will be starting exactly one minute late in honor of one of the participants. The announcement continued: In 1972 the #1 American Marathoner was Frank Shorter, In 1976 the #1 American Marathoner was Bill Rodgers, in 1980 the #1 American Marathoner was Tony Sandoval, in 1984 the #1 American Marathoner was Alberto Salazar, and in 1988 the #1 American Marathoner is from Long Island…ladies and gentlemen, this is Pat Petersen!

Thank you Pat for all those great memories. RIP

see http://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/31/sports/marathon-back-for-his-seventh-new-york-run-petersen-still-retains-the-dream.html for a nice NY Times article on Pat from 1991.

RIP

Bazza wrote:

RIP

Only saw Pat race NY once when it was once televised and yes easily distinguishabe by his leaning to the right, biomechanics which no one had control of, butthey 2:10?!?

A sad loss :( to those who knew and loved him.

dkny64 wrote:

see

http://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/31/sports/marathon-back-for-his-seventh-new-york-run-petersen-still-retains-the-dream.html

for a nice NY Times article on Pat from 1991.

I remember the article. Ran in the same race just once, Manufacturers Hanover 3.5 mile Championships ca. 1990 in NYC. At the post party they showed video and I think he got 2nd, but he led parts of the race an the ballroom went nuts when it showed him in the lead.

Very sorry to hear this.

by the way, I was joking about the quarter strategy idea too.

no. That will not be what I do.

Is Petersen the runner in red in this 1989 London marathon video? Curious to see his running form following comments in this thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqKQ5lHHlRo

Sad news wrote:

Is Petersen the runner in red in this 1989 London marathon video? Curious to see his running form following comments in this thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqKQ5lHHlRo

Yes! Nice find. Would also love to see any more vid that anyone has of Pat back in the day..

That is not Pat in red

No that's Steve Moneghetti of Australia.

It's possible that Peterson is the runner barely visible behind the back maybe 75 meters.

David Monti wrote:

I was so sorry to receive this news. I always admired his competitiveness, and he was especially good given that he always worked a full-time job.

Before Yuki Kawauchi there were working (nomal fulltime jobs) runners like Pat Petersen. Most young runners would not recognize Pat Petersen's name, but he is very deserving of being remembered.

Pat can been seen very briefly in the background at the start of the video.

I tried to find footage of the 1985 NYC Marathon and wasn't having any luck. Does anyone have a link / video they could post to youtube?