John J. Kelley, Boston Marathon Champion, Dies At Age 80

Boston Marathon champion and southeastern Connecticut native John J. Kelley has died at the age of 80.

Kelley died early this morning in North Stonington, according to a post by Runner's World editor Amby Burfoot on his blog "Footloose." Burfoot wrote that Kelley suffered from melanoma, which spread to his lungs.

Kelley, born on Dec. 24, 1930, grew up in New London and attended Bulkeley High School. According to his profile on RunningPast.com, he set the national record for the mile with a time of 4:21.8, breaking several more cross-country records while attending Boston University.

Kelley won the Boston Marathon in 1957 with a record time of 2:20:05. He competed every year between 1953 and 1970, finishing second five times. He also won the Pan American Games Marathon in 1959 and competed in the Summer Olympics in 1956 and 1960.

Burfoot said he met Kelley at Fitch High School in Groton, where Kelley started working as an English teacher and cross-country coach. Burfoot would go on to win the 1968 Boston Marathon. According to Burfoot, Kelley lived most of his life in Mystic. He eventually quit teaching and worked for a time as a taxi driver and freelance writer. He also started the running store Kelley's Pace in Old Mystick Village.

Kelley's death comes just weeks after the 49th annual running of the , a free 11.6-mile road race through New London and Waterford. It is named in honor of Kelley as well as his wife Jacintha "Jessie" Braga, who died in 2003 after 50 years of marriage to Kelley. According to the New York Times, Kelley is survived by eight grandchildren as well as daughters Julia Portelance, Kathleen Gabriel and Eileen Edwards.