Honoring Dan: Runners, Foundation Remembering Scharfman with October Race

Next to his family and his support for Belmont education, Dan Scharfman loved to run.

A somewhat late convert to running after years of hiking and outdoors activities, the School Street resident and School Committee member became a well-known figure through town, running in a somewhat stiff tall-man's stride, noted for wearing his throw-back "short" shorts and happily running bare chested on training runs of up to 20 to 30 miles as he prepared for ultra-marathons he began to take up.

So when Dan's friends and colleagues were looking for an appropriate way of honoring his memory after Scharfman's untimely death in January at 55, the groups came together to propose the inaugural Dan Scharfman Memorial Run.

"When [Scharfman] passed ... we were looking for an appropriate way to honor him," said Paul Roberts, one of Dan's running partners. 

Scharfman's friends and the leadership of the Foundation for Belmont Education came before the Belmont Board of Selectmen Monday, July 29, to discuss their plans to hold a 5 kilometer (3.1 mile) race that would run past three of Belmont's schools as well as a one mile walk around Clay Pit Pond in honor of Scharfman.

As the running community was discussing creating a run, the Foundation – which Scharfman was a member and supporter – was seeking to expand its fundraising outreach beyond the traditional school supporters, said Heidi Sawyer, co-chair of the Foundation's fundraising committee. 

And a road race and walk "is a whole new group of people to get excited by the schools and our initiatives," said Sawyer.

The proceeds of the run would fund the group's Innovative Teaching Initiative, a four year, $450,000 campaign that will not simply put an iPad tablet computer into the hands of all 9th to 12th grade Belmont student but also professional development training for teachers on how to use the electronic devices to take full advantage of the devices.

"It would provide funds to where (Scharfman's) heart was, in school technology," said Sawyer.

"It's a win/win," she said.

The race's proposed date is Sunday, Oct. 6 with the 5K starting at the Harris Field track at Belmont High School (much like the annual Brendan Grant 5K that is held each Father's Day) at 8 a.m. and the one mile walk at 9 a.m., according to Charlie Conroy, a Belmont runner. 

The 5K race would travel along a route where the runners would pass by three of Belmont's six public schools – the Wellington at mile 1, the Burbank at the second mile and Belmont High School at mile 3. 

The race would require several streets to be closed including Concord Avenue, Common, School and Washington streets, for about a half hour to 45 minutes. All roads would be open by 9:30 a.m. 

See Powerpoint screens of the two routes and the street closures on this webpage. 

The Selectmen were eager to help the group helping garner permits and working with town officials. 

"Dan was a great man and we miss him and we can honor him with this event," said Chair Mark Paolillo.