RIP Bob Hersh

[richh]

I first met Bob in Prague in 1978, and we would get together occasionally over the years, generally for a meal, with Bob accompanied by Louise and me with my wife Sarah. Bob always shone with his intelligence, warmth and knowledge. It was always a treat to see him, and even after his illness woes began we would chat on the phone. The world of athletics will miss him, and I will on a personal level.

[DoubleRBar]

Yes, Bert on the left and Jon on the right. Not sure where the money came from.

[Davidokun]

Bert mandated that his picture never appear in the magazine, period.

He did appear, incognito, in advertising pieces a few times.

And, also incognito, on the cover once:

1971_11.jpg

as i recall, the hands belong to Jon Hendershott and Bert Nelson

[gh]

Neither Bert nor Cordner (and probably Bob, too) would have wanted their photographs on the cover of TFN.

Bert mandated that his picture never appear in the magazine, period.

He did appear, incognito, in advertising pieces a few times.

[Vault-emort]

A lovely tribute. Though I never met the likes of Bob Hersh, Jim Dunaway, Peter Matthews (etc) their writings told me what legends of T&F journalism/announcing/etc they were.

In Australia, proper 'calling' of an athletics meet didn't happen until the 80s. Before that it was just announcing of track competitor names and results from top three (sometimes with only the winner's time) a little while after the race.

And sometimes those track announcers used to say 'people get away from that area or you will be prosecuted for trespass' lol

[Halfmiler2]

An excellent column, Garry.

[gh]

my column's remembrance of Bob from the latest edition now available on home page

[DoubleRBar]

Neither Bert nor Cordner (and probably Bob, too) would have wanted their photographs on the cover of TFN.

[NotDutra5]

They didn't have one for Cordner Nelson who actually founded the magazine.

Nor Bert IIRC. Article on Cordner's death Jan 2010 if anyone wants to read.

[Conor Dary]

A cover with Bob Hersh in the next T&FN magazine?
He seems to have been extremely respected for his devotion to T&F all his life, when I read all these kind words about him 🙏🏻

They didn't have one for Cordner Nelson who actually founded the magazine.

[79]

A cover with Bob Hersh in the next T&FN magazine?
He seems to have been extremely respected for his devotion to T&F all his life, when I read all these kind words about him 🙏🏻

[Halfmiler2]

Bob was a friend and mentor beginning in the late 1990s as he helped steer the Long Island Association in it's secession from MAC, which was full of corruption. His guidance on so many issues was exactly what was needed and the political will to "suggest" that Pat and Helio Rico let it happen, finally made it a reality. We worked together on many events & projects over the years, but it was the little things like making sure he had another full glass of red wine at all time when he was telling his stories, that I remember most fondly. I learned the ins/outs of announcing from him and that has come in handy when I had to step into that role in emergencies. By far, the best memory was at Millrose when the WPV was going long because Stacy Dragila was jumping so well. All the races had ended and most of MSG had emptied. I suggested to Bob that he invite everyone down to track level and he made it happen, saying that was a genius idea and it was the kind of thing that he would have thought of himself. RIP Bob!

Sue Polansky (the 1st USATF Long Island President) was at the Shiva and we reminisced about the Long Island split from MAC.

[Halfmiler2]

We went to the afternoon shiva at the Hersh’s home this afternoon and there was a good turnout of people, a mix of local friends and T&F people. We got to talk to Louise more than at the funeral. Cora said she finally found someone with more books -especially Track & Field books - than we have. There were on the walls numerous framed posters and pictures from different Olympics, World Championships, Millrose, and other major meets.

We did tell Louise how many of the posters on the board extended their sympathies. She did mention that she hoped Eddie was doing well.

[lonewolf]

Becca, sorry to hear about your son. You have a special place in the heart of those of us who have followed you since you were a peripatetic pole-vaulter working your way westward and admire your prominence in your event
and national track government.

[gh]

Bob did have one signature in his announcing. Once a meet, he would say that a race was in its penultimate lap or we were about to start the penultimate event. Occasionally, it was the ante-penultimate lap or event.

he once took it to the next step and used preantepenultimate but we quit there