The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Mario Hasz completes Run 169 — in spirit
Friends meet late runner’s goal for him
BETHANY >> Mario Hasz died at age 66 of brain cancer before he could complete his goal of running races in all 169 municipalities in Connecticut, so fellow members of Run 169 Town Society did it for him by running with a stuffed bear, finishing the journey Friday with Bethany.
The bear, a gift to Mario from the group while he was hospitalized, wore the number 169, bore his name and was passed to his widow, Diane Hasz, on the sidelines so she could carry it over the finish line. More than two dozen runners carried the bear over the 5K course.
Group member Katey Baruth, who organized the Bethany race of 187 runners, said it was an emotional moment for his widow and others when Mario finished his goal.
“It was a good way to remember him and help him meet his goal,” said Baruth, who only met him once. Runners in the group of about 1,600 members complete their town goals at different times.
Hasz, of Cromwell, died in September 2015 after finishing 60 towns. The Run 169 Town Society to which he belonged was formed in 2012 by men and women who aspire to run races in each of the state’s 169 municipalities.
Members pledged to finish Hasz’s towns for him and on Friday wrapped it up in Bethany by doing the “Run for the Airport” race arranged by Baruth to benefit the airport community center building fund. There were no races planned there, so Baruth organized the 5K and chose a cause. The race ended in front of Bethany Town Hall.
Baruth said Hasz was an exceptional runner and so dedicated to the sport that he once checked himself out of a hospital to run a race. She said he was a talented cartoonist with a witty personality.
Two of his friends in the group, Richard Zbrozek and Charles Merlis, coordinated the teddy bear in the races and society member Luis Maysonet, the resource administrator for Run 169, mapped out and coordinated the schedule for Mario Hasz’s completion.
“After 54 weeks, Bethany was the last town we needed,” Maysonet said. “Mario, even though he left us, brought us together.”
In a speech once the race was over, Maysonet said of Mario Hasz, “A quiet, humble man, he tried to run races where there were fewer spectators. He didn’t want a big fuss being made. He just wanted to show up and run.”
Maysonet went on to say, “However, Mario’s dogged determination faced a major obstacle as he fought a battle with glioblastoma, a form of cancer. As Mario bravely waged his fight with this disease, the members of 169 came together once again.”
Maysonet also said, “One of the most beautiful things I’ve encountered is seeing how this diverse group of slightly eccentric people got together to run for someone whom they loved or for someone they’d never met. Having met Mario in person wasn’t important because Mario’s spirit could be felt around us; he IS a part of us.”