Dick Hoyt, the man who famously pushed his son in a wheelchair during the Boston Marathon, has passed away at the age of 80.
According to a statement shared by his surviving family, Hoyt died in his sleep at his home in Holland, Massachusetts, on the morning of Wednesday, March 17.
Per The New York Times, Hoyt was most well-known for pushing his son Rick Hoyt, a quadriplegic man who also has cerebral palsy, in the Boston Marathon back in 1980.
Father and son managed to participate in a total of 32 Boston Marathons together, with Rick riding in a specialized wheelchair for that very purpose, until Dick retired in 2014 due to health issues.
Dick then served as Grand Marshal of the 2015 Boston Marathon in recognition of his three decades of proud accomplishments.
A number of tributes from the world of athletics have since poured in for Hoyt and his family. For example, in an official statement, a spokesperson for the B.A.A. wrote:
"Dick personified what it meant to a be a Boston Marathoner, showing determination, passion, and love every Patriots’ Day for more than three decades.
"He was not only a fan-favorite who inspired thousands, but also a loyal friend and father who took pride in spending quality time with his son Rick while running from Hopkinton to Boston."
A spokesperson for the Boston Red Sox also paid tribute to Hoyt, writing in a tweet:
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dick Hoyt. For decades Team Hoyt has exemplified perseverance, love, and compassion, as Boston Marathon icons and as a family.
"We send our thoughts to the entire Hoyt family. They will forever be an inspiration
Per The Times, Dick Hoyt was born on June 1, 1940, in Winchester, and grew up in nearby North Reading.
A lifelong athlete, he was captain of the North Reading High School football team, where he met and later married Judy Leighton, the head cheerleader, in 1961.
Hoyt served in the Army National Guard and Air National Guard for 37 years, and later began a career as an inspirational speaker, giving as many as 100 speeches a year.
He is survived by his three sons: Rick, Russ, and Rob, his five sisters: Arlene, Alice, Barbara, Ruth, and Kathy, his three brothers: Phillip, Herbie, and Jason, five grandchildren; and a great-grandson.
