Distance star Dudley Healy, Hall of Famer, dies at age 95
Dudley in January 2003.
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Masters Hall of Fame member Dudley L. Healy died May 11 at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, according to posted obituaries on the Web. He was 95. His last recorded race was in July 2007 at Long Branch, New Jersey. Inducted with the Hall of Fame Class of 2003, Dudley was a lifelong resident of Chatham, New Jersey. He worked for General Electric for 43 years after graduating from Lehigh University in 1936. “Dudley competed in over 1,000 races in five continents,” said one obituary. “World Champ in track and field and USATF age-group Runner of the Year 10 times, he previously held three national records in track and field and road racing.” Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 16, at Stanley Congregational Church, Fairmount Avenue, Chatham. Friends may visit at Wm. A. Bradley & Son, 345 Main St., Chatham from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 15, and 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Saturday. He won many national masters titles, from 800 to 5,000 meters. He took third at the 1999 Gateshead world meet in the 10K in M85. In 2005, he was USATF’s Male Runner of the Year in the M90 age group. Our condolences to his family, and many running friends.
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5 Responses
I thank God that I met Doug Healy. He was and will continue to be an Inspiration to me and the Running Family. I met His Son Art who travel with His Father to Bermuda, and many other places. I can only hope to be able to live as long as Doug did and still be able to compete as well as He did.
Art may God continue to bless you and your family.
I played high level soccer until I turned 46, became a long and ultra long distance runner at the age of 50 and, finally, started to run middle distances on the track in 2002 or 2003. At the Southeastern Masters in Raleigh, real men like Dudley Healy and Maxwell Hamlyn welcomed me to their world, their determination and their kind of guts. I liked it. Still do. Thank you, Mr. Healy.
I met Dudley Healy some years ago. We ran the same events so got to chatting about x-c, the 3k on the indoor track and the like. He was always a gentleman and always full of joy about running. His last international x-c race was in Barbados at the WAVA regional meet – in 1998 I believe. It as out in the countryside – starting in an abandoned sugar cane field, up into the hills with trails that had quite tricky and rocky footing. Then we plunged down a steep hill into a cow pasture complete with cows laying down multiple layers of cow manure. The cows were not happy to see a long line of running running through their pasture – one in particular decided to let loose a high pressure shot of urine. I did not know I could jump so high. Dudley and I laughed about this afterwards. I think he ran a lap or two of this multi-lap course before dropping out. The footing was too dangerous for him and he decided that he would save his legs for the track. He told me afterwards that he would not run another international x-c race as the footing was getting too dificult for him. These days I am beginning to understand just what he means.
However he continued to run the indoor meets in Boston -and as I get older I remember how he would pick it up the last lap especially down the final 100m to the finish showing all of us that he could pick up his knees and sprint.
He was a great role model for all of us who continue to compete as we age.
Fondly remember spending quite a bit of time with Dudley at WMA championships in Leon, Mexico in 2002 and Puerto Rico 1n 2003. A real gentleman and a great person to talk with about our favorite sport. I’ll cherish the photos I have of Dudley and those memorable trips. Farewell Master Runner.
Thanks to all of you who wrote such nice comments. Great to hear from you Stefan, as I fondly recall our times in Raleigh. Sid, I know he held a special place in his heart for you.
His greatest joys weren’t the records or technical things, but the people he met and the MANY wonderful experiences he had in the 30 years he spent with Masters running in his “second life” after retirement. A very modest person on the outside, but intensely proud of his records like the 3:56 New York Marathon at age 75, and his 80-85 AR for 5K (road) which he held for many years. His racing schedule was beyond comprehension, and from the mid 1980’s to mid 1990s, there was hardly a weekend he didn’t race somewhere in the world at from 800M to the Marathon (and a couple Ultra XC), all at very high age-gradings. He was the ultimate optimist, always planning and looking ahead to the next race, the next trip. While he wasn’t one to dwell in the past, he loved to tell stories like the one Mary shared, and all of them were told with fondness and a smile. My father absolutely refused to think negative thoughts, and he forged ahead with a zest and passion for life. He refused to live under any societal imposed age restrictions and always fancied himself about 30 years younger than his physical age. I can tell you all that he died pain free and at peace after a most rewarding and vigorous life. Thanks, Art Healy
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