Jim Diego Obituary, Death – The untimely death of Front Runner member Jim Diego is a devastating blow to all of us at Front Runner. We are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
Jim was held in very high regard not only within Front Runners but also within the larger running community as a whole, and he earned a great deal of respect from everyone.
Jim was a member of Front Runners New York for nine years, and his dedication to the club was evident in all aspects of the organization during that time. He competed in a large number of races, including 138 marathons in various countries, all while proudly representing the club.
Jim took great pride in wearing gear with the FRNY logo as well as the colors of the borough of Queens, the state of Kansas, and the university where he studied for his undergraduate degree, the University of Michigan (Go Blue, for you, Jim). Jim’s sporting achievements served as a source of inspiration. He completed at least one full marathon and two half marathons in each of the 50 states during his lifetime, and he was named the FRNY Ultra-Runner of the Year in 2019. In addition, he was named FRNY Ultra-Runner of the Year in 2019. When Jim traveled to all 50 states as part of his cross-country running adventures, he made it a point to sing the National Anthem on race day in each of them.
Jim’s talent as a runner and singer in New York propelled him to prominence in the city’s music and running communities. As a result, he was frequently invited to open New York City races with his rendition of the national anthem, the most recent of which was the 2022 New York City Marathon. He also received numerous awards for his performance.
Jim will be remembered fondly by everyone in our club for the joy he brought into our lives and the warmth he spread whenever he ran, competed, sang, or volunteered. All of these things will be remembered about Jim. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn his passing, and we ask that you keep his family and the Front Runners in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.