Dr Annunziata’s Memorial
Visiting the Hopkinton Common, it is clear how deeply the start of the Boston Marathon is woven into this town’s history. The town green is the place where thousands gather each April and where a global event begins in a small New England community.
One unique monument of the Common is the rock sculpture honoring Dr. Joseph Annunziata, MD, as longtime Hopkinton physician and respected community figure. Dr. Annunziata served the town for decades, known for his medical practice and his civic involvement. He became especially associated with the Boston Marathon, volunteering his expertise and presence to support runners and organizers.
Residents remember that on race mornings, Dr. Annunziata would be on the Common before the starting gun, calmly checking on runners and ready to provide care if needed. He treated elite athletes and first time participants alike.
The memorial rock honors a man whose commitment to health, service and community became part of Hopkinton’s marathon story.
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Hopkinton is best known as the starting point of the Boston Marathon, but it is now home to another landmark that tells an important chapter in the race’s history. This bronze sculpture, titled The Girl Who Ran, honors Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to run and complete the Boston Marathon. In 1966, women were not permitted […]
Start of Boston Marathon
This statue on the Hopkinton Town Common captures of the most recognizable moments in distance running: the instant before the start of the Boston Marathon. The figure is a man poised to send thousands of runners on their way toward Boston. This sculpture represents the marathon starter, long associated with officials of the Boston Athletic Association […]
