JOHN McNULTY
Nanuet High School
Class of 1975
John McNulty was not blessed with an abundance of speed or natural athletic ability. His greatest asset was his “stick-to-it-iveness.” Once he took up running, as a freshman at Nanuet High School, he was all in. For John, that meant pounding out mile after mile. He often logged 100-mile weeks on twice-a-day training sessions, gradually transforming himself from persistent plugger to champion long-distance runner. He overcame a serious health condition as a child to carve out one of the greatest careers of any Nanuet track and cross county athlete, and later starred for Rutgers University and in a prolific post-collegiate racing career.
A 12-time varsity letter winner, he established school records that stood for more than 40 years. He set Nanuet marks in the two-mile run, 9:12.9, which was the third-fastest time ever in Rockland when set and is now eighth-fastest. His time of 12:45 over Van Cortlandt Park’s rugged 2.5-mile cross country course was also third-fastest in Rockland up to that point. John was a key member of the fastest distance medley relay and four-mile relay (17:50.1) in school history, and also set a school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:34.4) that was later eclipsed by teammate Bret Watzka.
An All-State harrier in cross country, he won the Section 9 Class B crown in the fall of 1974, beating the eventual state champ, Mike Colangelo of Albertus. John always ran well in big meets, placing third in the New York State championships and fourth in the Eastern States meet. His third-place finish in the inaugural State Federation meet in ’74 paced the Golden Knights to an unexpected team title. The Federation meet assembled the top teams in the state regardless of class size. In 1999, John was one of 21 harriers selected to the Rockland County All-Century Cross Country Team.
In track, John made second-team All-State in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Overall he earned All-County honors six times and served as a team captain in cross country, winter track and spring track his senior year. “When I went to the starting line, I always felt prepared and ready to go,” John said back in 2009, when he was inducted into the Nanuet High School Sports Hall of Fame. “I am very proud of the fact that I was able to perform consistently well from week to week and race to race.”
A Catalyst in Golden Knights’ Success
John was one of the chief cogs in Coach Dave Hanson’s powerful track lineup. During his four-year varsity career, he contributed to six Rockland County team championships and six Section 9 Class B crowns. He was joined by a talented cast that included middle distance/distance runners Bret Watzka, Jim O’Rourke, Mark Forlow, Ken Johns, Ralph Magnetti and Bill Weidemann, shot-putter Tony Harlin, hurdlers Don Berich and Larry Finucane, jumpers Paul Coopersmith and Brian Scully, and sprinters Paul Dertinger and John Hammeran, among others.
“I remember the tightness of the team, especially after Coach Hanson took over for cross country [in 1974],” said John, who recruited his track mates Forlow, O’Rourke and Magnetti for the XC team in ’74. He also considers himself fortunate to have been coached and mentored by Hanson, acknowledged as one of Rockland’s greatest coaches. “He opened my eyes to everything about choosing a college, looking at the program and the academics, the whole package. He was very instrumental in my deciding to go to Rutgers.”
Excelling at Rutgers and After College
John traded the Golden Knights’ black and gold for the Scarlet Knights’ red and white when he enrolled at Rutgers. Remaining a model of consistency, he earned 12 varsity letters, twice competed in the NCAA Div. I cross country championships, captured the 3,000-meter steeplechase in the Metropolitan Conference meet, captained the cross country and track teams, and helped Rutgers win several Metropolitan Conference team titles. He also finished fifth in the steeplechase at the U.S. Junior National Championships, a meet for athletes age 19 or younger.
After graduating from Rutgers in 1979 with a degree in environmental economics, John continued to pursue his distance-running career with gusto. He especially excelled at the 26.2-mile marathon distance. On the Yonkers Marathon’s notoriously hilly course John clocked a superb 2 hours 24 minutes 22 seconds, the third-fastest time in race history.
John owns the fastest marathon time of any Rockland high school graduate, 2:23:25, and ran four of his 10 marathons faster than 2 hours 30 minutes, a benchmark of excellence for the event. He also chalked up numerous road-race and track victories during his 15-year post-collegiate racing career and achieved excellent personal-best times of 24:10 for 5 miles, 30:15 for 10K (6.2 miles) and 1:06:48 for the half-marathon.
Staying Strong in Face of Illness
John worked in the financial services industry starting in the mid-1980s. He worked at Prudential for almost eight years and served as vice president of company compliance at Guardian Insurance from May 2001 till July of 2009, when he went out on permanent disability leave.
John had contracted bacterial meningitis as a child and was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. At age 7 he had a cerebral shunt implanted to drain cerebrospinal fluid from the deep cavities of the brain. He was advised to avoid contact sports due to his medical condition, leading to his decision to take up running.
John's shunt deteriorated over time and after numerous blockages and subsequent infections, the failing shunt had to be replaced when John was 47. Surgery to remove the shunt was extremely difficult and complicated. Despite the efforts of John’s dedicated team of doctors and specialists, each surgery failed to completely correct his condition. As a result, John was in and out of hospitals over the past several years and underwent more than 265 brain surgeries, each one attempting to correct recurring complications. John faced his health challenges with a resolute spirit and received steadfast care from his wife of 41 years, Suzanne, and unwavering support from his family and friends.
Sadly, John passed away in September 2022 at age 65, due to complications from Covid after his last surgery at the NYU medical center.
John and Sue resided in Princeton Junction, N.J., and later Monroe, N.J. They had two children: Kaitlyn, 34, and Sean, 33, who recently took over the head coaching position for men’s cross country at Dartmouth College, as well as assistant track coach. Kaitlyn and her husband Steve Wilcox had their first child, Otto John Wilcox, in February 2023.
John also received steadfast support from his parents, Jake and Margaret McNulty, and his sisters, Kathleen, Diane, Lisa and Colleen.
To quote John’s motto: “Run Fast, Take Chances.” He embodied that credo right to the end. He is a most deserving recipient of enshrinement into the Rockland County Track & Field Hall of Fame.
A 12-time varsity letter winner, he established school records that stood for more than 40 years. He set Nanuet marks in the two-mile run, 9:12.9, which was the third-fastest time ever in Rockland when set and is now eighth-fastest. His time of 12:45 over Van Cortlandt Park’s rugged 2.5-mile cross country course was also third-fastest in Rockland up to that point. John was a key member of the fastest distance medley relay and four-mile relay (17:50.1) in school history, and also set a school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:34.4) that was later eclipsed by teammate Bret Watzka.
An All-State harrier in cross country, he won the Section 9 Class B crown in the fall of 1974, beating the eventual state champ, Mike Colangelo of Albertus. John always ran well in big meets, placing third in the New York State championships and fourth in the Eastern States meet. His third-place finish in the inaugural State Federation meet in ’74 paced the Golden Knights to an unexpected team title. The Federation meet assembled the top teams in the state regardless of class size. In 1999, John was one of 21 harriers selected to the Rockland County All-Century Cross Country Team.
In track, John made second-team All-State in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Overall he earned All-County honors six times and served as a team captain in cross country, winter track and spring track his senior year. “When I went to the starting line, I always felt prepared and ready to go,” John said back in 2009, when he was inducted into the Nanuet High School Sports Hall of Fame. “I am very proud of the fact that I was able to perform consistently well from week to week and race to race.”
A Catalyst in Golden Knights’ Success
John was one of the chief cogs in Coach Dave Hanson’s powerful track lineup. During his four-year varsity career, he contributed to six Rockland County team championships and six Section 9 Class B crowns. He was joined by a talented cast that included middle distance/distance runners Bret Watzka, Jim O’Rourke, Mark Forlow, Ken Johns, Ralph Magnetti and Bill Weidemann, shot-putter Tony Harlin, hurdlers Don Berich and Larry Finucane, jumpers Paul Coopersmith and Brian Scully, and sprinters Paul Dertinger and John Hammeran, among others.
“I remember the tightness of the team, especially after Coach Hanson took over for cross country [in 1974],” said John, who recruited his track mates Forlow, O’Rourke and Magnetti for the XC team in ’74. He also considers himself fortunate to have been coached and mentored by Hanson, acknowledged as one of Rockland’s greatest coaches. “He opened my eyes to everything about choosing a college, looking at the program and the academics, the whole package. He was very instrumental in my deciding to go to Rutgers.”
Excelling at Rutgers and After College
John traded the Golden Knights’ black and gold for the Scarlet Knights’ red and white when he enrolled at Rutgers. Remaining a model of consistency, he earned 12 varsity letters, twice competed in the NCAA Div. I cross country championships, captured the 3,000-meter steeplechase in the Metropolitan Conference meet, captained the cross country and track teams, and helped Rutgers win several Metropolitan Conference team titles. He also finished fifth in the steeplechase at the U.S. Junior National Championships, a meet for athletes age 19 or younger.
After graduating from Rutgers in 1979 with a degree in environmental economics, John continued to pursue his distance-running career with gusto. He especially excelled at the 26.2-mile marathon distance. On the Yonkers Marathon’s notoriously hilly course John clocked a superb 2 hours 24 minutes 22 seconds, the third-fastest time in race history.
John owns the fastest marathon time of any Rockland high school graduate, 2:23:25, and ran four of his 10 marathons faster than 2 hours 30 minutes, a benchmark of excellence for the event. He also chalked up numerous road-race and track victories during his 15-year post-collegiate racing career and achieved excellent personal-best times of 24:10 for 5 miles, 30:15 for 10K (6.2 miles) and 1:06:48 for the half-marathon.
Staying Strong in Face of Illness
John worked in the financial services industry starting in the mid-1980s. He worked at Prudential for almost eight years and served as vice president of company compliance at Guardian Insurance from May 2001 till July of 2009, when he went out on permanent disability leave.
John had contracted bacterial meningitis as a child and was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. At age 7 he had a cerebral shunt implanted to drain cerebrospinal fluid from the deep cavities of the brain. He was advised to avoid contact sports due to his medical condition, leading to his decision to take up running.
John's shunt deteriorated over time and after numerous blockages and subsequent infections, the failing shunt had to be replaced when John was 47. Surgery to remove the shunt was extremely difficult and complicated. Despite the efforts of John’s dedicated team of doctors and specialists, each surgery failed to completely correct his condition. As a result, John was in and out of hospitals over the past several years and underwent more than 265 brain surgeries, each one attempting to correct recurring complications. John faced his health challenges with a resolute spirit and received steadfast care from his wife of 41 years, Suzanne, and unwavering support from his family and friends.
Sadly, John passed away in September 2022 at age 65, due to complications from Covid after his last surgery at the NYU medical center.
John and Sue resided in Princeton Junction, N.J., and later Monroe, N.J. They had two children: Kaitlyn, 34, and Sean, 33, who recently took over the head coaching position for men’s cross country at Dartmouth College, as well as assistant track coach. Kaitlyn and her husband Steve Wilcox had their first child, Otto John Wilcox, in February 2023.
John also received steadfast support from his parents, Jake and Margaret McNulty, and his sisters, Kathleen, Diane, Lisa and Colleen.
To quote John’s motto: “Run Fast, Take Chances.” He embodied that credo right to the end. He is a most deserving recipient of enshrinement into the Rockland County Track & Field Hall of Fame.