R.I.P. Guy Arbogast: Running loses a great one

A very aggressive cancer. Took him down quick. Sad day.

Wait...no way...what happened? When did this happen? Such a great guy.

Wait what?!?! I'd lost touch with him over the last 25 years since I'd run with him many many mornings back in Eugene.... crap.

Outstanding individual. Not just as a runner, but as an attorney, as a family man... RIP Guy.

This morning.

Link, Arbo wasn't an attorney. He was a lumber broker.

malmo wrote:

A very aggressive cancer. Took him down quick. Sad day.

Yes, George, such a sad loss today for all of us that knew Guy. I learned back in July that he had been diagnosed with cancer on his tongue in the spring and had surgery back in May? followed by radiation late in the summer. His correspondence with me in Sept indicated that he was recovering and in some sort of remission... but I learned that an early December checkup found a lump in his neck and a PetScan found that this particularly aggressive kind of cancer had metastasised to other parts of his body and we lost him in a month. His wife has been writing a particularly brave and informative blog (arbofamily.blog) over the past 7-10 days and it reveals what impact the cancer battle had on both Guy, his family, and his friends. It is one of the most courageous blogs I have ever read but brought me to tears on several occasions.

I believe Guy qualified for 3 US World X-C Teams... 1978, 1980, and 1982. But, his best one was his first one! We were both rookies in Glasgow, Scotland back in 1978 and the course there was particularly hilly and muddy. Somehow, we both got out in the Top 10-20 and fought to stay together there... with Guy outsprinting me in the muddy slop over the final 150 meters or so to finish 5th to my 6th...and the team came in 2nd. It was the race of his lifetime! I think that the only American men to historically finish higher than Guy did that day are... myself, Alberto Salazar, Bill Rodgers, and Pat Porter. Good company for Guy, indeed! I'm so glad that he had this memory to highlight his running career after racing for Washington State following a stellar HS track/cross country career in the LA region. I'm sure he relived it many times in his final days/hours. He had every right to....

Those of us who knew Guy.... were always welcomed by him at his home in Eugene... while at any big running events ever hosted there. Guy was truly a great runner and an even better person! Those of us who knew him well will truly miss him. My sympathies to his wife and children. RIP, Guy, you ran as courageous a race this past year against the cancer...as you ever did against the 1978 World X-C field. We will all miss you, buddy!

NO!!!! This absolutely sucks! I am a bit stunned right now... Guy was one of the most genuine people and always hosted us when we were in Eugene. We had lunch with Lee and Guy at their house during the 2016 Olympic trials and went out to eat together another evening. We were both members of Athletics West back in 1980 and lived in the same housing development and have stayed in touch ever since. I was a member of that International CC team that Craig Virgin refers to and Guy was amazing that day. I had no idea he had cancer...so sad...so sad... He was such a supportive member of the running community in Eugene and was known to host and feed(!) members of the U of O football team. Guy and Lee offered to give Drew a room in their house when he was slated to attend the U of O. It will take me awhile to get over this one...Lee, please let me know if you need anything...you and Guy are the best! - "Marco"

The link to the blog that Craig posted about that Lee has been keeping.

https://arbofamily.blog/

From Lee in the blog: "But I hold in my heart that we did it right." Having been fortunate enough to have been able to see him over the New Year's weekend, as relative as that phrase is, absolutely, Lee and their family did it right. Guy was cared for ever so affectionately by them and others while his condition deteriorated rapidly. Over the years I learned a lot about friendship from Guy, and as Craig Virgin said, Guy was "a great runner but an even better person", but in his final days here on earth I was also privileged to observed love in action "... no bullshit and no kidding around" orchestrated by Lee. May we all be so thoughtfully cared for as we too depart these running bodies. Yep, toast a good beer up to Arbo, he will be missed!

Ken Martin

Wow. I can't believe I mis-remembered that. The intervening 30 years must be playing tricks on my mind. Or it's just old age creeping in. Ugh. Thanks for the correction, Malmo.

In any case, condolences all

Wow, how utterly sad. I knew his name from when I ran in high school---track & field news. I wasn't in his ability range but I followed him, Virgin, Lindsay, Wells, Salazar, Meyer, Rodgers, etc...for inspiration. Thanks for posting this and again, how sad for someone so young and was one of the good guys. Condolences to his wife and kids and those who were close.

I got to have a few beers with him in Moscow Idaho in the early 1980's. Super nice person and a great perspective on life and running. I can see why he'll be missed.

How very, very sad. Far too young and a good guy to all who knew him. Have lost too many friends due to Cancer. Heartbreaking no matter how you slice it. My heart goes out to his Family.

Here's the obit. Loop will never be the same:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/registerguard/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=187779743

Correct me if I'm missing something but other than this message board did Let's Run have anything about Arbo on it's homepage?

I agree. Guy was 5th at World Cross. That’s a seriously incredible performance. The current top US runners can’t come close to that. In fact most are too gutless to even run World Cross.

It's threads like this that make LRC stand out. The greats come by to humbly share memories of a fallen comrade. Thank you, Guy and the runners of that era who inspired me to reach my distance running potential by sharing your wisdom and love for the sport.

RIP GA!

Very moving memorial. The church was filled with many of Guy's friends were in attendance including a lot of running's biggest and best: Vin Lananna, Alberto & Molly Salazar, Craig Virgin, ....

Brojos, you really missed the boat on this slight.

Awesome service and gathering at Oakshire Brewery.