The Central Park Track Club, an ensemble of friends, honored Marisa Galloway, a native of Wildwood Crest, during a race this Sunday. Galloway was tragically killed in a murder-suicide act committed by her ex-boyfriend’s mother near Gracie Mansion in the Upper East Side. This ill-fated event shocked her Club friends, who remembered Galloway as a caring mother of two whose life was abruptly and unexpectedly ended.
Marisa Galloway, an alumni from the class of 1997 from Wildwood Catholic High School, held a strong athletic profile as a track runner. Her athletic prowess extended to her membership with the Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol, and she took part in lifeguard races. The members of the Central Park Track Club deeply admired her sportsmanship and zest for life.
The tragic incident unfolded on East 88th Street near York Avenue around 8:50 a.m. on Friday, when Kathleen Leigh fatally shot 45-year-old Galloway before committing suicide. Galloway was recognized for her long affiliation with the running club and for her volunteer service as an auxiliary track and field coach at her alma mater, Fordham University.
The New York Road Runners Team Championships, held on Sunday, became a platform to remember Galloway. A touching tribute, as shown in a social media post from the club, featured a man racing while carrying a sheet of paper bearing Galloway’s name written in bold type. The post revealed overwhelming love and support from the New York City running community.
Marisa’s amicable demeanor was fondly remembered by Kingsley, a peer from the Central Park Track Club. He met her during her initial workout sessions with the club. Kingsley reflected on Marisa as an exceptional individual, abundantly generous in her love and spirit, and a devoted mother who cherished her children.
Marisa’s generous nature was her defining attribute, according to her friends. Alysia Dusseau, a fellow member of the club’s board, recalled how Marisa would wish her good luck before races and then kindly check upon her afterwards, something not common among all participants. Marisa’s kindness was always appreciated among her friends.
Alysia Dusseau also shared an anecdote witnessing Marisa’s helpful nature. Dusseau remembered how Marisa had enthusiastically offered to assist her during her moving process across town from the Upper West Side and had made good on that promise. Both women, having met in 2010 through the running club, were part of a group that would regularly meet outdoors during the pandemic peak to combat loneliness.
Marisa Galloway had contributed her time and expertise as a former board member for the Central Park Track Club and was serving as an advisory board member at the time of her tragic demise. Dmitriy Krasny, 40, appreciated her involvement with the club since he joined the team in 2015. According to Krasny, Marisa radiated warmth and goodwill from their first conversation, instantly remembering his name. He recollected his experiences with Marisa as consistently positive.
The antagonist of the tragedy, Leigh was a 65-year-old retired probation officer from Chicago suffering from terminal illness. She had moved in with her son in New York for her cancer treatment. The son in question was Galloway’s former partner and father to their 4-year-old daughter, Lili.
Following the tragic incident, the police found Galloway’s one-year-old daughter, Mariel, unscathed in a car seat in the back of Galloway’s Honda. This shocking event impacted Dusseau, who shared with the Daily News her feelings of disbelief about Marisa’s untimely death. She acknowledged hearing stories about the strained relations between Marisa and her friend Zachariah Reed, Leigh’s son but held the view that disagreements seemed to have subsided.
Marisa Galloway was described by the Upper East Side building residents as an earthy, considerate individual and a dedicated mother. An 85-year-old neighbor referred to as Allen recollected meeting her often and exchanging pleasantries. Allen remembered Marisa as a dedicated jogger and marathon participant for several years.
Some residents shared insights regarding Marisa’s predicaments with her ex-partner, Reed. One of Marisa’s friends, Meryl Fedelman, revealed how Marisa wanted to break free from the destabilizing presence of her ex-boyfriend in her life.
According to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, police had visited Marisa’s residence four times between 2021 and 2022 in response to disputes between Marisa, Reed, and Leigh. The issues typically concerned visitation rights and child custody matters. Reed reported two incidents of bruising on his daughter in April and August 2022, but both reports were dismissed as unfounded by the city Administration for Children’s Services.
Subsequent to the tragic incident, police officers discovered a seven-page note on Leigh. The note, addressed to the police, was Leigh’s account of her deteriorating health and her grievances about authorities not taking her claims of her granddaughter’s abuse seriously. Court records revealed that Reed had filed a custody case against Galloway in Manhattan Supreme Court in August 2021, with the last documented settlement conference occurring in December 2023.