Jack Pyrah is not doing very well at the moment, so now would be an appropriate time to remember a man who spent an entire lifetime loving the sport we love so much.
Here is a good article:
http://www.runnersgazette.com/features/pyrah.htm
(Naturally, please ignore Sydney's incorrectly stated mile time of 3:38 in the article.)
Please keep Jack, his wife, and his family in your prayers. Thank you.
i was brought up on villanova and oregon track, my gratitude to mr. pyrah's contributions to villanova, its track program and students runs deep. he and his family will be in my thoughts tonight and during my run tomorrow.
At the Penn Relays a few years ago Mr. Pyrah came and sat with team for a few minutes. My kids had no idea who he was, but were charmed by the man as he talked about how he thought the "boys" would do that afternoon.
When he left and joined his cronies I told my kids who that dapper man was and his place in Eastern track history.I was proud that he took the time to talk to a group of budding young track fans. A classy gentleman
A good man, a great recruiter, who gave much to the community of Villanova and the Track and Field world.
God Bless him and his family!!!
Jack and Jean Pyrah are two of the world's best people. A number of years ago Jack and NJ track historian Ed Grant drove from NJ to Illinois for the now defunct International Prep meet. What a treat it would have been to be a mosquito on the inside window of the car and to listen to them talk about track. Please keep Jack and Jean in your prayers. Thanks.
Any relation to Jason Pyrah?
Truly sad news. Even for a Georgetown man. As for that trip to Illinois with a certain New Jersey legend, I only wonder who was doing the driving.
No relation to Jason Pyrah. Pre-dates Jason Pyrah by a few decades.
And I am going to say Jack wasn't driving on that trip. I'm not sure Jack even had a license. Even years after he finished coaching at 'Nova, he would take several trains to get out to the Main Line from his home in Gloucester City, NJ.
truly a good man who gave his all to Jumbo and Villanova. I met him 35 years ago.... hard to believe. Another sad day for me.
Jack was a great and interesting man. His knowledge of the sport and his quirks will never leave my memory. Having stayed with him on many of our trips at 'Nova, I certainly learned a lot, and realized he has forgotten more than nearly any of us will ever know about the sport. He also was the forerunner of FAT timing with FPT, fully Pyrah timed, which was frighteningly accurate.
just a quick story...
We were watching on of the Pre movies on the bus on the way to Big East Cross Country one year, and as the movie progresses, we're all into it, and Jack doesn't say a word until it ends. He then states.... Pre's Mom didn't have that thick of an accent, and she was a delightful woman. And we then realized that he truly recruited everyone. God Bless you Jack!
Jack Pyrah has passed. Please keep his family in your prayers over the next few days.
Thank you for the stories and the honor you have given this man. He was my grandfather, and i never got to see him in action as a coach, but I always enjoyed listening to his stories and takes on whatever sport we were watching on tv. We all appreciate the prayers and support.
i feel your life is very rich because of the young people your grandfather knew. he could share many perspectives and experiences many of us never know. i will speak for those of us who have posted and wish all of your family well and fond memories of this great man.
My family has had the honor of living next door to Jack and Jean Pyrah for the last 18 years. Please keep them in your prayers.They are two of the finest people you could ever know.
I have never met anyone with as much passion for track as Jack had. He was an icon in our sport, and i think we were all glad that it was Villanova that he chose to support most of all.