Watertown’s Bob Hall, First Boston Marathon Wheelchair Champ & Advocate for Access, Has Died

Bob Hall, a Watertown resident and trailblazing wheelchair athlete and advocate for access, died at the age of 74. A private funeral service will be held at a later date, and visiting hours were held at Nardone Funeral Home on April 16.

Hall’s passing was made headlines in the Boston Globe, New York Times, Washington Post, WGBH and many other places. The Boston Athletic Association had a remembrance on its website.

The following obituary was provided by Nardone Funeral Home:

Robert “Bobby” Hall, whose determination and vision helped transform the Boston Marathon and opened the door to generations of wheelchair athletes, died peacefully surrounded by loved ones. He was a pioneering athlete, a champion for inclusion, and a lifelong advocate for independence for people with disabilities.

Bob grew up in Belmont, where he developed a deep love of sports at an early age. After contracting polio as a child, he faced the painful realization that traditional athletic competition might be out of reach. That changed when he discovered wheelchair basketball, an experience that reshaped his sense of possibility and set him on a path that would ultimately change the world of sports.

In 1975, Mr. Hall sat at the starting line of the Boston Marathon, determined to prove that wheelchair athletes belonged in one of the world’s most prestigious races. At the time, there was no official category for wheelchair competitors. Undeterred, he completed the course in just under three hours, making history and igniting a movement that led to the formal inclusion of wheelchair divisions in marathons worldwide.

His influence extended far beyond athletics. Bob was a passionate advocate for access, independence, and dignity, believing that everyone should have the tools necessary to live a full and productive life.

That belief was reflected in his vision for the Bob Hall Legacy Fund, established to support the work of REquipment. Through this effort, Bob sought to expand access to durable medical equipment and assistive technology for individuals who need it most, continuing a mission rooted in his own life experience.

Bob is survived by his wife and best friend of 38 years, Jane; his sister Jeanne Galabos; his brother John Hall; his sister Rosemary Rikeman; his sister Susanne Griffin and his many nieces and nephews. His nephew Scott Hall and brother John Hall supported/attended many of his various events last year for his 50th Anniversary of completing the Boston Marathon. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bob Hall Legacy Fund at REquipment, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the dignity, independence, and self-determination of individuals with disabilities. REquipment provides free durable medical equipment and assistive technology to people across Massachusetts. To contribute, please visit BobHallLegacyfund.org. 

Bob’s legacy is measured not only in the race he completed, but in the barriers he broke and the opportunities he created. He did not simply participate in history—he changed it.  

Family and friends are welcome to come celebrate Bob’s life by gathering for visiting hours in the Nardone Funeral Home, 373 Main St. Watertown on Thursday April 16, 2026 from 4-7 PM. A private funeral service and burial will be held by the family at a later date.