The dash between the dates

He was a friend, a mentor and a role model. No one did more for local road running and road racing than Pete Sanfilippo, who passed away at age 84 on Saturday morning, just hours before he was set to direct the 37^th annual Knights of Columbus Holiday Run in his beloved hometown of Wappingers Falls. I’ve known Pete for more than 30 years. His handshake was firm, his staccato way of talking left you no doubt about his passion for everything in his life -- especially his directing road races. The man was loyal and loving to his family, his Knights of Columbus brothers, the Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club (he was a “founding father”), his church and the village in which he lived his entire life. If the dash between the dates is indicative of the time you have on this earth, Pete maximized his 84 years. His was a truly great American life. There will never be another guy like him. Anyone who has run, or will run, a MHRRC race owes a debt of gratitude for the man in the Dodgers cap who was at hundreds and hundreds of finish lines through the years – including our very own Red Fox Trot 5km. Rest in peace, Pete. Long may you run.