Rhode Island marathoner Bobby Doyle died this weekend after having chest pains as he was on his way to the hospital. He was one of the best marathoners to ever come out of the Ocean State, having finished in the top 10 at the Boston Marathon 10 times and having run in the Olympic Marathon Trials twice. His personal best was a 2:14:04 in 1979.

Doyle actually won the Ocean State Marathon seven times, beginning with the inaugural race in 1976 and finishing in 1990 at the age of 42 when NER’s headline read: Doyle in 7th Heaven at Newport Marathon. By winning the Delta Dental of Rhode Island Marathon for the seventh time, Bobby Doyle, 42, of Pawtucket, joined Grete Waitz (New York, nine times) and Clarence DeMar (Boston, seven times) in dominance of a single marathon.

Bobby Doyle operated Doyle’s Sporting Goods store in Pawtucket for 20 years before turning to coaching at the high school level.

(Source: New England Runner)