National-class sprinter Raymond Yeck dies of cancer at 64
Vance Jacobson of Seattle shared this very sad news Sunday night: “Raymond Yeck, our friend and fellow competitor, passed away peacefully in the early hours of Saturday, September 8, after a 3-plus-year battle with cancer. I recall in 2008 when I complained of gaining weight, he claimed some challenges in maintaining his weight. It was shortly after that when Ray was diagnosed with what eventually evolved into a form of adult leukemia. After years of aggressive treatments and comebacks, including the 2011 World Masters Athletics Championships in Sacramento where he ran the 100 meters, Ray lost a courageous battle beyond which most of us could imagine. He was 64.”
Ray is second from left in 200-meter medal ceremonies topped by Stan Whitley at 2008 Spokane nationals. Charles Allie was second and Larry Barnum fourth.
Vance continued in a note to Ray’s many friends:
A longtime masters sprinter, Ray was a perennial finalist in the 100 and 200 meters. In 2008, Ray was at his best at Outdoor Nationals in Spokane where he joined Stan Whitley and Charles on the medal stand (see attached photo) for the M60-64 200 meters. His condition was particularly close to home for me as my father lost a similar fight against the disease.
Ray touched lives in a positive way in his work. He was an information technology consultant who made a difference in his ability to advance clients’ access to business through the internet and the quality of work life his systems brought to the employees who work for those clients.
As Roger Parnell put it, “Our peer group, the circle of friends and competitors, has just gotten smaller.” In that regard, Ray wants us to make an extra effort from this point forward, to enjoy each other as competitors and most of all, friends. He believed it gave him the strength to confront all the challenges he faced. And, I have heard from a reliable source that he has drawn lane 4 on a permanent basis!
Ray’s wife, Kathleen, asked that I write a note to all of you in hopes that, in turn, you forward it on to other masters competitors. If you would like to send a note or card, their home address is: Kathleen Yeck, 4981 Ridgeview Drive, Antioch, CA 94531. A “celebration of life” will take place probably in late September. Kathy will get the word out to all.
6 Responses
Ray’s strength was defined not only how he performed on the track, but how he battled his cancer off it. He was a great Golden West teammate and we will miss him.
sorry to read of this…may god bless his family..
Ray was a great guy with a pleasant spirit, yet a fierce competitor. I’ll miss him at the starting line.
Ray was always filled with character and a driving, positive spirit. I am thankful to have met such a kind and thoughtful man.
My heart dropped when I read this news- I had known Ray for years he was always so generous video taping athletes races that he knew and sending it to them as a gift later-I regret that I had not talked to him in the last couple of years-this is a sobering year I have lost 5 athlete friends this year I am deeply saddened-my prayers go out to his family-he was a very good man and a friend.
I remember thinking the first time I saw Raymond run “what a beautiful runner.” I’m glad I got to shake this impressive, courageous athlete’s hand along the way.
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