Joe Kleinerman, 91; Founder of N.Y. Road Runners Club

Joe Kleinerman, 91, a distance runner who helped found the New York Road Runners Club and was a leader in the movement to allow women to run races longer than a mile, died Tuesday at a hospital in the Bronx.

Kleinerman was a founding member of the Road Runners Club of America and its local New York chapter in 1958, and worked with Fred Lebow to put on the first New York City Marathon in 1970.

Born in Spring Valley, N.Y., Kleinerman grew up in New York City and became fascinated with running as a young man, competing in high school running events.

In 1941 and 1942, he finished 10th in the Boston Marathon. His best time was 2 hours, 38 minutes.

After military service during World War II, Kleinerman worked for the U.S. Post Office in New York City until his retirement in 1968.

Kleinerman remained active with the New York Road Runners Club in his 90s as its registrar.

Knee injuries forced him to stop racing when he was 53 and to quit running at 70.