Ed Sheehan

I found info on him coaching the BAA & BRC as well as @ Harvard, but nothing on him checking out. Quite a stud in his day. Anyone?

Got an email from Pete Pfitzinger last night about this. Haven't seen anything on the news, but if word got to New Zealand I'd say it's true. Sad, he was only late 40s - heard he collapsed and died on a run, kind of like Andy Palmer a few years back.

Funny, both those guys were considered "nothing special" back in their prime, but nowadays they'd be considered among the best US marathoners.

Today's obituary from the Boston Globe:

Edward F. Sheehan Jr.

Age 47, of Silver Spring, MD formerly of Weymouth, suddenly May 6, 2005.

Beloved husband of Naoko Ishibe. Loving son of Mary V. (Lynch) Sheehan of

Weymouth & the late Edward F. Sheehan Sr. Brother of Daniel C. Sheehan of

Weymouth, Karen O'Brien of Mansfield, Kathleen Coyne of Walpole & Virginia

Cushman of Riverside, FL. Son-in-law of Nobuyuki & Masayo Ishibe of Japan.

Brother-in-law of Shuta Ishibe of CT. Also survived by many nieces &

nephews. Funeral Mass in the Immaculate Conception Church, East Weymouth on

Wed., May 11, 2005 at 9:00 o'clock. Relatives & friends invited. Visiting

hours are omitted.

Published in the Boston Globe on 5/9/2005.

This is another sad loss. Like Andy Palmer, gave his all to running and was a wonderful coach at Harvard and clubs in Boston. Condolences to Naoko and his family.

Obituary from today's Boston Globe:

http://www.legacy.com/bostonglobe/LegacySubPage2.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=3520355

terrible news..so sad..so senseless..very depressing

a bit of info on Ed:

I ran for Ed at Harvard from 1987 to 1991. Although some folks quarreled with his training philosophy, nobody could ever doubt his commitment to his runners and to Harvard. He was an incredibly hard worker who was there at nights and on the weekends, doing all of the little things people don't realize college coaches have to do. And at the same time, he continued to compete at a very high level, putting in tons of miles. He still holds some of Harvard's best times in the distance events, and then there's always that 2:13 marathon personal best.

I'd like to think that Ed and I became friends during my time as one of his athletes. He'll be missed.

Am very saddened by the loss of one the purest athlete/coaches that I've ever known...verrry understated as an athlete (a 2:13 guy...Rocket City early 80s)...coached Gompers to a junior marathon record and then some...believe that he influenced Franklyn Sanchez (who broke Pre's junior 5000 record)...a sweet guy who knew his s&%t and never tooted his own horn...big bummer...we will miss Ed Sheehan dearly.

MF

Sad news indeed.

I trained with Eddie when he was a student at Harvard and watched him race many times. We also went to Japan together for the Ohme 30 km as representatives of the BAA.

He truly loved to run and train to be the best he could be.

May God bless and bring comfort to his wife Naoko and family.

So sad. Such a great guy, husband, coach and competitor. We used to call him "Crazy Eddie" because he could be injured and still put in 120 mile weeks on his light frame. He took me on my first 28 milers and guided me to a great '96 with the BAA, all the while, saying "Like I say." Anyone remember that classic phrase of his????

Long live speedy Eddie !

The bit in one write-up about Ed being from Alabama is a mistake. He was from Weymouth, MA area. Went to BC High I think.

Ed was a great guy and will be remembered by me as a good guy who helped a lot of runners--LIVE ON ED!!

Ed was a bit of a rival during HS as I can remember warming up and cooling down together at races. At that time he was only about a 10:00 2 miler. In the summer before starting college, we were on a 24 hour relay team together and Ed showed up looking like superman. He pounded out about 26 miles over 24 hours with an average pace of something like 5:02, putting everybody else at that place to shame. It always remained with me how much the guy was able to transform himself in a top echelon runner in such a short time. My sorrows go out to his family.

I only got to know Ed and his wife a little. They are truly nice people. Ed reminded me of old school. He had red shaggy hair and that thin weathered runner look, totally unassuming. I had to pry it out of him that he had run a 2:13. I can remember him as recently as a year ago. He yelling for Naoko at Cherry Blossom, telling her who was in front of her, where the Russians were and who was coming up. He exuded intensity at a race where almost everyone else was slugging along with the masses or content to watch the Kenyans finish 1-10. One think I could tell is that he and his wife were devoted to each other. My heart goes out to her. It is also sad because he was so quiet, and to my knowledge never raced in the past few years, thus we in Washington never knew, nor were able to utalize, his knowledge and passion for the sport. Really around here he was known as Naoko’s husband/coach. It is sad, but I am honored to have met him the few times I did.

BeN

man...depressing. This guy was truly about teaching the sport, old school. He helped me get from the finish line to the med tent in Boston '95. Not because he had to, just because he and I had butted heads in past races, just because he saw a drooling, dizzy athlete. Old school, tough guy. Scott

I don't subscribe to the listserve but a friend sent me your post on the

run washington message board. I just wanted to send along some more

information about my dear friend Ed Sheehan...here is some more

information as listed on the Boston Globe.

He passed away of a heart attack due to something called Ab

Fibrillation. I met Ed and Naoko when I ran with the Boston Running Club

in 1992. I went to their beautiful wedding near Seattle in 1996. She is

completely devastated by the loss. She will need all our love and

support going forward. Thank you.

Janet Choi

Hi Janet,

I ran with Ed for one year (1992) at the BRC, but I met him much earlier than that. I was a pipsqueak kid running the Hingham, MA 4th of July 4-miler and I went out like a lunatic with Eddie and some other guy. I was dropped at 2M and finished well behind them (Ed won). The next day, Eddie was quoted in the local paper with, \"I went out quickly with (guy #1), and (me) through 2 miles and that helped me to...\" It was amazing to me that he knew my name and considered me part of the race. It seems insignificant, but I\'ve remembered it for 13y and it\'s reflective of the sort of guy Ed was. It was great to run under his tuteledge years later. Tragic loss.

BC

bump

Has anyone on here seen stuff about why he had a fatal heart attack? Family history, etc.? If these guys are just dropping left and right for no apparent reason, damn, that's depressing. What was Andy Palmer's family history in this regard?