I just learned today of the passing of Diane Palmason in October. Her family must have chosen not to go public at the time as I'm unable to find an obituary. We lived about 2 miles from each other, and would occasionally meet by chance in town, Comox, British Columbia.
In 2017, I wrote an article about Diane's life and running history which you can see at this link: Diane Palmason
Diane could tell me great stories about Canadian women's running history, because she was a major chapter in that history. Her career began in the early 1950's as a sprinter representing Canada at the British Empire/Commonwealth Games in Vancouver in 1954. She witnessed the epic Bannister Landy Miracle Mile at that event and the collapse of Jim Peters in the marathon only thirty minutes later.
At age 14 she went into retirement as there was virtually no future for women runners. But twenty years later, married and a mother of four children, she became a marathoner and started setting Canadian masters records from 60 yards to 50 miles in multiple age groups.
We owe much to Diane for all the leadership she has contributed to women's running not just to Canada but also in the US where she resided for many years.
George Brose
The following tribute appeared on the Canadian Masters Association website:
Members of the CMA have been saddened to hear of the recent passing in British Columbia of Diane Palmason, an inductee into the CMA Hall of Fame in 2010. Diane began masters running with the Ottawa marathon in 1976, inspired by the first World Masters Championship in Toronto the year before. She competed in a total of 77 marathons, setting Canadian records in Women 40, 45, 55, 60 and 65 age groups. She also set many Canadian records on the track, and nine World records from 400m to 10000m, with her last reported race being a 15K at age 75. Diane was an inspiration to many other masters athletics competitors.
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