Connecticut Olympic Hero Passes Away

NEWINGTON, CT — Lindy Remigino, a Hartford Public High School graduate who emerged out of obscurity to win a pair of gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, and later became a highly successful coach at his alma mater, died Wednesday of pancreatic cancer at his home in Newington. He was 87.

Remigino, who was not even the top runner at Manhattan College at the time of the 1952 Olympics, won the 100 meter dash gold medal in a photo finish that had judges studying finish line photos for nearly 20 minutes before declaring him the victor. He later was part of the gold medal-winning 4 x 100 relay team.

Following his racing career, Remigino coached at Hartford Public for 43 years, accumulating 21 state championships in outdoor track and 10 more in indoor track.

Among his numerous accolades are receiving the prestigious Gold Key from the Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance in 1972, and induction into the Hartford Public Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2017.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, June; five children; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will take place Monday, July 16 at 11 a.m. at St. Mark the Evangelist, 467 Quaker Lane South, West Hartford. A reception will follow at the church hall.

Photo (Lindy Remigino (center) in 2016 with his wife June and Greenwich coach Terry Lowe) courtesy of Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance

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