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| 8/1/2008 10:47:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | First 'Mary Mile Weekend' set for Aug. 8 and 9
Event to honor Hartzheim’s memory, raise funds for local schools
Kevin Damask
Sports Writer
During her 36 years of life, Mary Hartzheim touched many people, with her warm, caring personality.
One of them, was three-time Olympic track and field star Suzy Favor-Hamilton, with whom Hartzheim was a teammate at the University of Wisconsin.
"Mary brought a sparkle of light to everyone she was around," Favor-Hamilton was quoted as saying in a press release. "She had a passionate and very caring personality. She always thought of others before herself. Most of all, she was a truly beautiful person inside and out, who lived every day the way we should all look at life - with joy."
Sadly, Hartzheim's beautiful life was cut short, when she contracted carcinoid neuroendocrine cancer, a rare form of the deadly disease. She was diagnosed just two months after her marriage to Fred Herlitz, whom she met through Favor-Hamilton.
Doctors gave Hartzheim a slim 10 percent chance to survive a year. However, with the love and support of her husband, Hartzheim defied the prognosis, and lived for four years.
She passed away in 2005.
However, in 2006, the Mary Terese Hartzheim Foundation was created to "fulfill the life pursuits and dreams of Mary Terese Hartzheim," according to Herlitz.
The demonstration of strength, courage, and determination that Herlitz and Hartzheim displayed has "established the framework of the MTH Foundation and will guide the foundation to make a difference in our communities," according to a recent press release.
Next weekend, the community that was perhaps closest to Mary's heart, her hometown of Minocqua, will host the First Mary Mile and Memorial Golf Outing, Aug. 8-9.
The weekend will kickoff Friday morning at 9 a.m., with a golf tournament (shotgun start) at Timber Ridge Golf Course. The golf outing will be followed by a picnic style dinner at Torpy Park around 6 p.m.
On Saturday at 9 a.m., a fun run/walk event will begin just south of town on Hwy. 51 and will end at Torpy Park. There will also be a children's 100-meter event.
"The start of the race will be between the house where Mary grew up in and Minocqua Ball Park," Herlitz said. "We encourage people to walk and run at a variety of paces. There will be a citizen's race and an elite race. It's for runners of all shapes and sizes. The event is more about spending time with friends and family than trying to run a five-minute mile."
Proceeds will go to help with the construction of a new track at MHLT Elementary School and a scholarship at Lakeland Union High School.
"Mary was the product of a wonderful community," Herlitz said. "She would love the fact that we are putting something back into that community."
Herlitz said Mary had a unique blend of athleticism and sophistication.
Favor-Hamilton witnessed Mary's competitive spirit both in high school and college. During the mid-1980s, Hartzheim and Favor-Hamilton were rivals on the track. Favor-Hamilton was collecting state titles and smashing records at Stevens Point Area Senior High School, while Hartzheim was tearing up the track at LUHS.
At Wisconsin, they became teammates and very close friends. Hartzheim, along with her sister Maureen, Pam Hinton and Favor-Hamilton set the American record in the 4 x 1,500-meter relay in 1990.
While running for the Badgers, Hartzheim was a three-time All-American and All-Big Ten selection.
Academically, she earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration. After college, she enjoyed an accomplished career in governmental regulatory affairs.
She met Herlitz while living in Milwaukee and the couple moved to Portland, Ore., They relocated to Boston and Hartzheim passed away there on Dec. 15, 2005.
But the memory of a young woman who was cherished by so many will be celebrated next weekend in Minocqua.
"The Mary Mile is in honor of the most amazing friend I have ever had," Favor-Hamilton said. "Please join me in running the Mary Mile, as we celebrate Mary's life."
In order to pre-register for Friday's golf tournament, log on to www.mthfoundation.org. There's a $100 donation cost to enter the tournament.
Participation forms for the golf outing and the run, may be picked up at the Minocqua-Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Chamber of Commerce.
If interested, contact suzy@www.mthfoundation.org or call 1-866-MTH-5737. Registration is also available the day of the event.
The donation for Friday's dinner is $15, which will be collected at the event. For more information, visit www.mthfoundation.org.
Kevin Damask can be reached at kdamask@lakelandtimes.com.
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