# Johnny Kelley crosses the finish line

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnny-kelley-crosses-the-finish-line/268147>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 8, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnny-kelley-crosses-the-finish-line/268147 "2004-10-08T03:06:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnny-kelley-crosses-the-finish-line/268147/1 "2004-10-08T03:06:07Z")

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[Boston Marathon “Heart and Soul” Johnny Kelley dies at 97.](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=531&ncid=531&e=10&u=/ap/20041007/ap_on_sp_ot/run_obit_kelley)

Man, I remember watching him run every year and being amazed at the guy’s stamina and spirit. It’s not going to be the same without him.

Goodbye, Johnny.

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**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnny-kelley-crosses-the-finish-line/268147/2 "2004-10-08T03:53:55Z")

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He talked to me once! We Wellesley students always went out to cheer the marathon runners on Rte. 9 and once in 1985, about two hours later, I was walking there when I saw him jogging along happily. He winked at me and said “Think I waited too long to make my move?” and moved on. Soooo cute.

I can’t say “rest in peace”, because Johnny was happiest moving. May your track always be smooth and the crowds always cheering.