On February 17, 2002, Jack Brennan,
founder of the Central Park Track Club, passed away due to a sudden
illness. One week later, on February 24, his friends and family
gathered for a memorial run. The run was held in the Rockefeller
Estates, where Jack would run with his many friends. Although
Jack was often identified as 'Central Park Jack' (in order to distinguish
from Jack Brennan of the Taconic Road Runners Club), he
lived in Westchester county and his running mates included runners
from the Taconic Road Runners, Greater New York, Westchester Track
Club, Warren Street, New York Harriers, Moving Comfort New York
and other clubs. In fact, given that Jack would stop to talk
to anyone anywhere anytime, it was hard to say how many people he
does not know.
The assembly point for the run was
the parking lot of Sleepy Hollow High School.
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Photo
01: Parking lot scene. On the far left with
the back pack is Alan Ruben, current president of the
Central Park Track Club and torchbearer of the legacy of Jack
Brennan. On the right, Michelle Santomassino
who was a Westchester resident before moving down to New York
City, and therefore has many local friends.
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Photo
02: The neon orange of the Central Park Track
Club mixed with the fluorescent light yellow-green of the Greater
New York Running Team. In the center, it is Greater New
York coach Bob Glover (with blue cap) speaking with Stuart
Calderwood.
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Photo
03: Standing in center stage in the orange-red
jacket is Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Jack.
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Photo
04: Before starting off, it was time for a group
photo. Of course, group portraits are always difficult
to arrange. So this is a practice shot.
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Photo
05: This is the actual group portrait. So
it was that on this cold, sunny morning, the friends and family
of Jack Brennan came together to run in honor of his
memory in the place where he often ran. We could have
attempted to identify the names of all those present, but on
this day only one name matters and that was the reason why these
people came.
-
Photo
06: This is the insurance shot, just in case.
And now it is off to the races.
For this large number of people, it
might have been difficult to coordinate the run, especially since
many of the people are Manhattanites going into 'the sticks' for
the first time ever. Fortunately, local resident Bob Glover,
who was a regular running partner of Jack Brennan, took charge
and planned the 'fool-proof' route, explained the context of the
route in Jack's life and led the group to visit Jack's resting place
too.
For the runners, the Brennan family
had sent this invitation: "The Brennan family really appreciates
all your support and would be honored if you would end your run
this Sunday (see next item) at our home and join us for some beer
etc. Please don't forget to send us any memories or pictures of
Jack for inclusion in an album for the children (keep it clean)."
The following pictures were taken at the Brennan home after the
run.
We leave you with these words from
Alan Ruben:
We came to Sleepy
Hollow
We came to run with
Jack
We ran to his resting
place
We ran past his resting
place
We came to train
for Boston
That same old Boston
We came for the echoes
Of fast days long
ago
We ran in the memory
of Jack
Runners old, runners
new
That cold bright sunny
day
We ran to remember
Jack
We will always remember
Jack
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