Boston Marathon icon Rick Hoyt has died at the age of 61. Hoyt was a longtime staple on the Boston course, pushed in his wheelchair by his father Dick for decades. (CBS Boston coverage.)
Statement from the Hoyt Family issued May 22, 2023:
“It is with profound sadness that the Hoyt Family announce the passing of our beloved brother and uncle, Rick Hoyt this morning. Rick was 61-years-old. Rick passed away due to complications with his respiratory system. As so many knew, Rick along with our father, Dick, were icons in the road race and triathlon worlds for over 40 years and inspired millions of people with disabilities to believe in themselves, set goals and accomplish extraordinary things. Rick was also a pioneer in education. His mother Judy Hoyt changed the laws allowing her son to be educated alongside his non-disabled peers. His family is heartbroken and requests time to grieve and will share details as they become available.”
As for the previously planned Dick Hoyt Memorial “Yes You Can” Road Race scheduled for 10:00 am this coming Saturday, May 27th in Hopkinton, MA, we will be making a decision on whether that will still happen on Saturday or be postponed until a later date.
-The Hoyt Family
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Statement from the BAA:
BOSTON – The Boston Athletic Association extends heartfelt condolences to the Hoyt family on the passing of Rick Hoyt, 36-time Boston marathon finisher and iconic member of Team Hoyt.
The B.A.A. wishes to share the following statement in memory of Rick:
Rick Hoyt will always be remembered as a Boston Marathon icon and for personifying the “Yes You Can” mentality that defined Team Hoyt. We are fortunate to have been able to call Rick a friend, mentor, pioneer, and Boston Marathon finisher. His legacy will live on through the Rick & Dick Hoyt Award, which is presented each April around the Boston Marathon to someone who exhibits the spirit of Team Hoyt through advocacy and inclusion.
Our thoughts go out to the Hoyt family, Rick’s many friends, and all who were touched by his positivity.
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Dave McGillivray, longtime friend of the Hoyts, commented:
“Dick and Rick Hoyt have inspired millions around the world. I was so fortunate to have known them and to have been a friend of theirs for over 40 years and even to have been their manager at times. One of the greatest athletic thrills I ever experienced was pushing Rick in the Finish at the Fifty 10K race at Gillette Stadium. We had so much fun together reminiscing about the past, about doing the Bay State Triathlon, the Ironman Triathlon World Championship, the Falmouth Road Race and so many other races. It was so inspiring, too, working with Rick and his brother Russ on the Dick Hoyt Memorial “Yes You Can” Road Race scheduled for this coming Saturday in Hopkinton. I told Rick I would only be involved if HE was the Race Director, not me. He gladly accepted that role and he was doing an amazing job at it, too. We all will truly miss Rick as we have missed his father but we will never, ever forget the gift they both left all of us — that we all can overcome obstacles and we can accomplish special things in our lives that have positive impacts on other peoples lives, too. As their famous motto stated, “YES YOU CAN”. We will always be grateful, Rick, for your courage, determination, tenacity and willingness to give of yourself so that others, too, could believe in themselves, set goals and make a difference in this world as you have.”
