Nina Louise Kuscsik

Nina Louise Kuscsik January 2, 1939 – June 8, 2025 Nina Louise Kuscsik, a cherished daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend and human being, and a pioneering force in women’s athletics, passed away peacefully, early Sunday morning, June 8, 2025, at the age of 86, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease and a shorter struggle with respiratory failure. She was a longtime resident of Huntington Station, New York since 1965, where she raised her family and became a cornerstone of her community. Her Early Years Born in Brooklyn NY on Jan 2, 1939, Nina grew up with her loving mother Louise, father George, and siblings Connie, Helen, and George. At an early age, she was active and engaged with physical activity, reaching beyond traditional limits. In her neighborhood, she played stickball, ringolevio, stoopball, basketball, enjoyed roller skating, bike riding, and loved going to Riis Park. In her later teen years, according to Nina, she was the NY State champion for bicycle racing, ice speed skating, and roller skating all in the same year. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she attended Nursing school, graduating at the age of 18 (since she graduated high school early at 16). Realizing that New York State at that time would not grant a nursing license until age 21, she petitioned the powers that be and “got the rules changed” and received her nursing license at age 18. She worked as a nurse at Brooklyn Hospital before she had children, and then at Mt Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan for approximately 40 years, taking on the role of patient representative to advocate for others that could not. She met and married her husband Richard Kuscsik and brought three children Christina, Stephen, and Timothy into the world. After her divorce, she single-handedly raised them, all while being the sole provider for her household, working a full-time job in NYC, and spending countless hours training, running and legislating for women’s running. A Trailblazer in Women’s Distance Running When her bicycle broke in the late 1960’s, she took up running as a way to stay in shape. These “first steps” began what turned into an amazingly accomplished legacy of running achievements. After her first marathon in 1969, she continued to run, or attempt to run, many marathons and long-distance races. Unbeknownst to her, there was a major impediment in her way, whereas women were not officially permitted to participate in most long-distance running events. This also started Nina’s endless advocacy for women’s running. In 1970, she was the sole woman participant in the inaugural New York City Marathon. In 1971 she became just the second American woman to run a marathon in under three hours. Nina made international headlines as the first official female winner of the Boston Marathon, in 1972 finishing in 3:10:26. That same year, she took first place for women in the New York City Marathon, a feat she repeated in 1973. She was women’s winner in the Cow Harbor 10k in Northport, 1977, and continued to run that race every year, continuing to walk the race after she stopped running due to her knee replacement. Her many achievements continued, and included setting the American record for a 50- mile run (1977) and winning the Empire State Building Run-Up three consecutive years (1979–1981). She completed over 80 marathons, and had countless leading finishes at races around the globe. In 1999 she was inducted into the Long Distant Running Hall of Fame, in 2012 was inducted into the NYRR Hall of Fame, and in 2022 she received the Abebe Bikila Award from the New York Road Runners for her lifelong contributions to the sport. Moreso than her individual running accolades, she was a driving force advocating for women’s rights and equality in the world of running. Along with other notable running influencers, she joined the famous “six who sat” protest at NYC Marathon in 1972, and spent many years on the Amateur Athletics Union and USA Track and Field committees drafting and implementing legislation for women’s running. She later co-founded the world’s first (and now oldest) all-women’s road race—the NYRR New York Mini 10K. Nina’s ongoing advocacy efforts continued and resulted in successfully lobbying the international Olympic Committee to create a women’s marathon, which became reality in 1984. None of this work was done in isolation, and Nina was quick to generously acknowledge the many other influential forces who assisted in these efforts over the years. She went on to coach the US Women’s long distance running team, assisted with youth running programs, hosted the “Marathon Minute” radio broadcast on 1010 WINS news, and has been included in a number of books and films on running. As she watched her last NYC marathon November 2024 from the sidelines in Central Park, accompanied by her daughter and other family and friends, she was extremely proud not only of her son, grandson, and daughter-in-law who were running, but also of the approximately 25,000 women runners that day, which were all allowed to run due in part to Nina’s advocacy. A stark contrast to 54 years prior when she was the sole woman running in 1970 NYC marathon. A Devoted Mother, Sister, and Friend Notwithstanding her legacy in the world of running, she is most affectionately known by those who knew her for her positive attitude, friendly demeanor, and always warm smile, and laugh. Nina found and brought joy to every occasion. She especially looked forward to spending time with her children and grandchildren, being around her numerous friends, attending family functions, gardening, interacting with loving and supportive neighbors and caregivers, attending dances, and taking scenic walks at Caumsett Park and Fire Island. Nina is survived by her children: Christina Wiese (Cameron), Stephen Kuscsik (Jill), and Timothy Kuscsik (Marilyn); her grandsons Alex and Ryan Kuscsik; her sister Helen Flamini; her brother George Marmorino (Paige); brother-in-law Larry Busini, sister-in-law Joan Daly, and many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family members. She was predeceased by her mother Louise Marmorino, father George Marmorino, sister Connie Busini, and ex-husband Richard Kuscsik. Now that Nina has set off on her last run, she will forever be with us on our own long- distance journeys through life, and we have been incredibly touched by her warmth, inspiration, advocacy, and friendship. Services and Celebration of Life A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Union United Methodist Church, 1018 Pulaski Road, East Northport, NY. • Visitation and viewing: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. • Service: 11:00 a.m. Immediately following the service, a Celebration of Nina’s Life will take place from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. at the Huntington Moose Lodge, 631 Pulaski Rd, Greenlawn, NY, a cherished place where Nina enjoyed dancing every Tuesday night. Food and drinks will be provided, and guests are warmly encouraged to attend, connect, celebrate Nina’s vibrant life, and share a favorite memory or story of Nina. We will have a few prepared tributes to share, and we welcome any others that would like to speak at her celebration. Please RSVP for the Celebration of Life, so that we may get an idea of how many seats and the amount of food that we will need. RSVP to: https://ninak.rsvpify.com Burial Interment will take place on Monday, July 14, at 10:30 a.m., at Nassau Knoll Cemetery, 500 Port Washington Blvd., Port Washington, NY. An optional funeral procession will depart from Jacobsen’s Funeral Home, 1380 New York Ave., Huntington Station, at 9:30 a.m. For those attending the interment, you are welcome to join the processional or meet at the cemetery. In Loving Memory In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations in Nina’s memory be made to one of the following: • The Alzheimer's Association: https://www.alz.org • The NY Road Runners: https://www.nyrr.org • The Arbor Day Foundation: https://www.arborday.org/donate Your support of these causes would continue Nina’s legacy of resilience, compassion, and advocacy for others.

Nina Louise Kuscsik

January 2, 1939 - June 8, 2025