Boston, MA
Former Boston Marathon executive shares how Boston, OKC responded in face of tragedy
Tom Grilk wouldn’t be who he is without the Boston Marathon, nor would the marathon be what it is without Tom Grilk.
The 76-year-old, now an emeritus member on the marathon’s board of governors, has been involved with the famed 26.2 mile race for more than four decades.
Grilk recently retired from his role as CEO of the Boston Athletic Association, which he held for 11 years. Before that, starting in 1979, Grilk was a Boston Marathon finish line announcer.
Grilk, a business lawyer once upon a time, got into running to manage his stress. After twice failing to qualify for the Boston Marathon, Grilk ultimately ran the race three times in the 1970s.
“And then almost by accident became a finish line announcer, which, as you might imagine, is much easier than running,” Grilk said.
Grilk was there for the Boston Marathon’s darkest day, when two bombs exploded at the finish line on race day 2013. Three people were killed.
Last month, Grilk spoke at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum on the bond between Boston and Oklahoma City — a pair of cities, 1,700 miles apart, that responded with strength in the face of tragedy.
Grilk and Kari Watkins, the executive director of the OKC National Memorial & Museum, have gotten to know each other through the years as marathon administrators.
Ahead of this weekend’s Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, The Oklahoman caught up with Grilk over the phone from his home in Lynnfield, Massachusetts.
More: They dance and cheer and do so much for Memorial Marathon. Meet the Gorilla Hill Bananas.
Q: What message did you share about the parallels between Boston and Oklahoma City? What were some of the similarities in how the two cities came together amid tragedy?
Grilk: “Certainly at the highest level of abstraction, the two cities share the very, very unfortunate distinction of being the only two cities in the U.S. to have confronted a terrorist bombing in recent years. And the real parallel that I was focused on was the resilience that the population of the two cities have displayed over a period of time — at the time of the tragedy and thereafter.
“In Oklahoma City, there we were at the museum, which is a testament to the resilience of the city in both looking back to the horror of what happened and focusing on what it takes to move forward in the face of something as horrible as that.
“Certainly the scope of tragedy in Oklahoma City was far greater than what we faced here. I don’t suppose one can assign different levels of gravity to tragedy, but three people died here on that day, a fourth died a few days later and a fifth died sometime after that. In Oklahoma City, 168 people died.
“In both places, what one reflects on is how horrible something was but then how strong people were. In Oklahoma City people ran into the building, ran toward the explosion to try to help. In Boston, the same thing happened. There were two explosions, and at that point the sensible thing to do is to get away. But there were people who ran back toward the explosions to help, to provide life-saving first aid.
“In Boston, we made every effort to be prepared for trouble and tragedy if it came. We had spent the preceding two years preparing for a mass casualty event at the finish line, hoping that would never happen, but knowing that it could. Whether it might be someone with firearms, or explosives, or gas or some kind of natural disaster, whatever it might be. Aided by federal funds we conducted two 24-hour live-fire-sounding exercises with police and other public safety officials running around with weapons, firing them on occasion. Ambulances screaming around, hospitals standing by to practice.
“Sadly, that practice had to be put in effect. The response was immediate. All the public safety people and the hospitals responded immediately, and then a lot of other people were just there, whether they’re spectators or runners going back to help or people who lived nearby stepping up to provide the initial life-saving support before the formal first responders could even get there. Without that, more people would’ve died. The early strength and resilience continued thereafter in Boston, and you folks have continued to see it in Oklahoma City.”
More: 2023 OKC Memorial Marathon: Al Maeder wins men’s race; Kristi Coleman wins women’s race
Q: Had you ever visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum before speaking there last month?
Grilk: “It was an altogether new experience. I had communicated with Kari (Watkins) over the years just as two people who were responsible for large marathons, but had never been there. She sent me a note and said, ‘Hey, now you’re retired. Get out here.’ So I went.
“There are certain people that when they speak, you do as you’re told. I was very, very pleased to have that opportunity. For my wife and me, it was an arresting opportunity and experience.”
Q: What did you learn about Oklahoma City while you were here?
Grilk: “I learned that it was, has been, is a place that responds collectively to challenge, crisis, tragedy in a way to which probably many other places could only aspire. The whole city came together instantly … the museum stands as testament to the strength, the resilience, the commitment to people who live there. To remember what happened and to carry forward in a way that honors the memory of all those whose lives were lost or who were so terribly and adversely affected.”
More: Shoe geeks? Sneakerheads? The shoe culture is alive and well in OKC’s running community
Q: Since the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon, what did you share with folks here about running in the Boston Marathon?
Grilk: “I did have a chance to speak to a number of people who were going to be running in the Boston Marathon, which took place earlier this week. I told them most of all, enjoy it. Take it in. Have some fun with it. Don’t necessarily try to run your fastest race, it’s a very difficult course, it’s got a lot of hills in it. The last five miles have a lot of downhill in it which really, really hurts your upper thighs. Don’t go too hard in the beginning because you won’t enjoy the end.
“And the finish line in Boston, unlike any other major marathon in the world, is right on a great, big downtown street. You’re running into an urban canyon full of screaming people who are cheering for you. That last 670 or so yards is something one should be able to savor and experience rather than stumble through exhausted. I’ve tried it stumbling through exhausted, and that’s not the way to do it.
“I congratulated them on their accomplishment in getting there. Sometimes the hardest thing about the Boston Marathon is getting to the starting line.”
OKC Memorial Marathon
A highlighted look at next weekend’s schedule:
SATURDAY: Memorial 5K (7 a.m.), Senior marathon (8 a.m.), Kids marathon (9 a.m.)
SUNDAY: Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay races start at 6:30 a.m.
The Boston Fleet have signed defender Rylind MacKinnon to a one-year contract bringing back the 5-foot-10 defender.
Last season was MacKinnon’s first with the Fleet, whhere she recorded one assist in 28 appearances, and also played in three games.
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According to the Fleet MacKinnon added “grit and physicality to the team’s blue line.”
The 26-year-old British Columbia product signed as a free agent with the Toronto Sceptres after going unselected in the 2024 PWHL Draft playing 22 games for the Sceptres as a rookie.
Collegiately, MacKinnon was the University of British Columbia’s all-time leading scorer by a defender.
Boston now has 13 players signed including MacKinnon, Loren Gabel, Ella Huber, Laura Kluge, Shay Maloney, Olivia Mobley, Jill Saulnier, Liz Schepers, Sophie Shirley Susanna Tapani Amanda Thiele, Megan Keller, Haley Winn, and Aerin Frankel.
Boston, MA
Duck parades, outdoor drinking, and Gronk in a kilt. Here’s how Friday’s World Cup festivities unfolded. – The Boston Globe
Despite concerns about transportation and crowd management, the region’s biggest World Cup day yet appeared to unfold largely without major problems.
Morocco fans, many of whom celebrated on Shirley Avenue in Revere, rejoiced after their win against Scotland.
“We’re going to go very far in this World Cup,” predicted David Lalou, a Moroccan fan from Casablanca who saw the game live.
Here’s how Friday’s festivities unfolded.
The drinks continued flowing
Mayor Michelle Wu announced Thursday that in two zones in the city – the Temple Place Social District and the Union-Marshall Street district – it would be legal for patrons to consume alcohol outdoors.
The measure took effect Friday, and by game time the two zones had quickly become lively block parties, complete with live music and hearty Scottish accents.
Zachary Lobel, 22, of Newton, and Ruairidh Davidson, 24, of Inverness, Scotland, independently brought their bagpipes to Union Street. The pair found each other, and a crowd of people gathered to watch them play.
George Comeau, a senior event manager with the Downtown Boston Alliance, organized the outdoor alcohol consumption zone on Temple Place. He estimated at 6:30 p.m. that 4,000 fans were watching the Scotland-Morocco game from the party there.
On the Common, a free watch party attracted fans of every competing team.
Stan Abraham, 38, of Jamaica Plain, came with friends to support Haiti in its match against Brazil.
“I just got to be around my people, around the energy,” he said.
Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, who is up for reelection this year, shook hands and posed for pictures with gleeful Scottish fans outside The Dubliner, the popular Government Center bar.
“I would’ve said it was impossible to drink Boston dry, but clearly [the Scots] are here and they are testing the capacity of the city to serve them,” Markey said. “It’s just a happy week.”
In the Boston Public Market, which extended its hours for FIFA Fan Fest, thirsty Scottish fans did just that, lining up through the narrow Boston Beer Alley, their arms filled with as much alcohol as they could carry.
“I don’t think we’ll last all night,” said owner Dawa Sangpo.
Also in the Public Market were Moroccan fans, many of whom frequented Mo’Rockin Fusion, a fast-casual restaurant where the food is inspired by owner Morad Bouzidi’s childhood in Morocco.
“It’s 100 percent the Moroccan experience,” Bouzidi said.
Yes, the World Cup is in Boston, but, like, not actually in Boston.
As was the case before last week’s game, South Station was packed, but some fans reported an easier commuting experience this time and Globe reporters observed a quick-moving queue.
“I had a pretty smooth experience,” said James Pennie, who is visiting from Vancouver but is originally from Scotland.
Near 3 p.m., as a final few fans jogged through the queue to enter South Station, MBTA employees yelled out encouragement.
“No Scotland, no party!” they said.
Richard Sullivan, the Transit Police superintendent, said the fans were “a very orderly crew.” The MBTA sold over 19,000 tickets to and from Foxborough as of 3 p.m. Friday.
“The queues were very minimal,” said Phil Eng, the MBTA’s general manager. “We got everyone through.”
But not everyone took the commuter rail. A Globe photographer witnessed a convoy of 12 school buses, packed to the brim with Scottish fans, pulling into South Bay to pick up online alcohol orders, before going on to Foxborough.
A duck ? Leading a parade? And what was that about Gronk?
Patriots legends Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman appeared on Fox’s pregame show wearing kilts, accompanied by a man playing bagpipes.
Edelman and Gronkowski applauded the Scots’ drinking prowess after they drank some Boston bars out of beer over the last week.
“The last time it happened was after we won the Super Bowl in 2015 against the Seattle Seahawks,” quipped Gronkowski.
And in Providence, a famous duck named Dawn led Scottish fans on a very orderly march. In a video shared on Dawn’s Tiktok page, the little creatures waddles forwards, a small Scottish flag on its back, while leagues of kilted men with bagpipes march behind it.
Jessica Rinaldi, Omar Mohammed, and Amin Touri of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Globe correspondents Ariela Lopez, Aayushi Datta, Lauren Albano, Audrey Tomlin, Jaden Perry, and Emily Spatz also contributed.
Truman Dickerson can be reached at truman.dickerson@globe.com.
Boston, MA
MBTA, state transportation chief apologizes for ‘insensitive’ employee hair-pulling incident
Gov. Maura Healey’s Transportation Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng said he has apologized “fully” to the subordinate T employee he’s been accused of pulling the hair of at a work dinner two years ago.
Eng has come under fire for the late 2024 incident this week and admits that it was a “mistake” that has forced him to reflect upon his actions.
“My goal is always to lead with respect and inclusivity,” Eng said in a statement. “I know that this was a mistake, and I own that. I have apologized to this employee fully and have reflected on my actions.
“I am committed to learning from this experience and upholding the highest standards of professionalism in all my interactions as secretary and general manager,” Eng added.
The MBTA said the incident, first reported by Contrarian Boston, occurred in November 2024 at a restaurant where T employees and their spouses were having a team dinner.
WCVB-TV reported that the MBTA employee has told people the interaction with Eng was not welcome and highly inappropriate.
The station described Eng as being accused of committing the hair-pulling faux pas while saying good-bye to the T employee after a work function at a brewery.
The MBTA confirmed that an “insensitive” interaction occurred between Eng and an employee, but downplayed the incident as occurring in the context of a larger conversation about hair from earlier in the evening that included multiple people.
Eng was poking fun at his own baldness when the alleged interaction occurred, according to the MBTA.
“The MBTA is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive workplace environment,” MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo said in a statement. “Leadership plays a critical role in that. Two years ago, General Manager Eng had an insensitive interaction with one of his direct reports. He subsequently apologized directly to this employee.
“Any claims of harassment, discrimination or retaliatory behavior are completely without merit,” Pesaturo added.
Sources have told WCVB-TV that the T employee is involved in negotiations to leave their job with the agency.
Eng is the state’s top transportation official. Healey appointed him as general manager of the MBTA in 2023, and interim transportation secretary in late 2025.
He was paid $509,114 last year, which includes a $30,000 retention payment he is eligible for each year he remains with the T, per his contract and state payroll records. He does not get additional pay for working dual roles in Massachusetts, but continues to take in a roughly $185,000 pension from New York.
Eng, former president of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Long Island Rail Road, came out of retirement to work for the MBTA, but remains retired with the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System, which is paying him a gross monthly pension of $15,357.39, according to the New York State Comptroller’s office.
Eng, who stepped down from his MTA post in February 2022, retired from New York’s ERS the following month, March 31, 2022, the comptroller’s office said. His monthly pension equates to $184,288 in annual compensation, which he can continue to collect while working at the MBTA, where he is one of the highest-paid transit leaders in the country.
Eng has been credited by state officials for helping to get the MBTA back on track following a federal probe for a number of safety lapses that culminated with a fatality, when a 39-year-old man was dragged to death by a Red Line train in April 2022.
He is under contract with the T through April 10, 2028, with an option for a one-year extension. His base pay for 2026 is $484,206, per state payroll records.
By comparison, Eng was paid $285,254 in his final year leading the Long Island Rail Road, per the New York State Comptroller’s office.
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