Statue Unveiled In Memory Of The Boston Marathon's Golden Boy

BOSTON, MA — A statue was unveiled along the Boston Marathon route Saturday in memory of Spencer, the beloved golden retriever who cheered on runners for years before dying of cancer last year at 13 years old.

Spencer, a therapy dog from Holliston, became a local icon in 2018 when a photo of him watching the marathon while holding blue and yellow flags circulated online and in news reports. In the coming years, he became a fixture at the marathon.

"Whether rain or shine, Spencer brought joy, love and smiles to all runners who passed him, making him not only man's best friend, but the marathon's best friend," Spencer's legacy Facebook page, Spencer & Penny's Goldens Forever, said last month.

The statue, which is true to the real Spencer's size, was crafted by local artist Jeff Buccacio of Buccacio Sculpture Services.

Funds were raised through a grassroots community outreach to Boston Marathon runners and friends of Spencer's Facebook page, also named for his niece and companion Penny, who died of cancer within days of Spencer.

After both pups' deaths, their owners, Rich and Dorrey Powers, began raising money for golden retriever cancer research through the Morris Animal Foundation.

Spencer's and Penny's legacies also live on through events and fundraisers organized by the community. Last year, around marathon time, a group called MA Golden Meetups organized the Golden Strong Marathon Walk of nearly 200 golden retrievers and their owners, who raised $1,200 to benefit the Spencer & Penny Fund.

There's even a book on Amazon telling the story of the official dog of the Boston Marathon, titled Spencer: Boston's Beloved Marathon Dog.

The Powers family told Boston25 that they now have two dogs named Jimmy and Jade, who will be at this year's marathon to cheer on runners, Spencer style.

"We hope that Spencer’s story through this statue will continue to be a source of inspiration and hope for generations to come," the family said.

You can find the bronze Spencer memorial on the route in Ashland, near where he stood for many years.