'Still Had So Many Plans,' 26-Year-Old Dies After Crossing Marathon Finish Line

PROVIDENCE, RI — A 26-year-old Brown University graduate was flying high as he crossed the finish line at the Mesa Marathon in Arizona in just over 3 hours and 10 minutes, beating his personal record for the distance, the Boston Globe Tuesday.

But the victorious run on Feb.4 would be the last for Pierre Lipton, who collapsed shortly after crossing the finish line and died of what doctors believe was "some sudden electrolyte imbalance that caused arrhythmia,” Lipton's father told the Globe.

According to Mayo Clinic, electrolytes are substances in the blood that help trigger and send electrical impulses to the heart. When electrolytes are too low or too high, they can interfere with heart signaling and lead to irregular heartbeats, the organization said.

“He accomplished more than anyone I know in just 26 years, but he still had so many plans,” Lipton’s girlfriend, Eleanor Pereboom, wrote in an Instagram post with a photo of a smiling Lipton finishing his final run. “Here he is just a couple feet from the finish line. He’s still smiling. Both feet lifted off the ground, he’s still flying. He was doing what he loved.”

A GoFundMe started in Lipton's honor is raising funds to begin a philanthropic foundation that will support charitable organizations consistent with his passions. The causes include food security, environmental protection and restoration, physical activity programs for the underprivileged and animal welfare.

Described as someone who cares about health and movement, the GoFundMe page noted he was always working on becoming stronger and had various sporting goals he didn't get a chance to fulfill.

Lipton's obituary outlines the Charlotte, North Carolina native's incredible life of passion, leadership, and "many adventures."

Early on in his education, Lipton spearheaded several organizations and shined as valedictorian at Myers Park High School before going on to study economics and Middle Eastern studies at Brown University, according to his obituary.

Even before he graduated from Brown, Lipton cofounded and became COO of the news company 1440, "where he helped grow readership of subscribers who span the political spectrum and all walks of life," the obituary said.

For his accomplishments, Lipton was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2022. Lipton's Forbes profile says he cofounded 1440 Media in 2017, "which releases a free, ad-supported daily email newsletter, leaning on fact-based reporting and primary research to summarize the day's events in a way that Americans across the political spectrum can agree on."

"Pierre is above all deeply caring," his obituary said. "He cares about people, knowledge, and being understanding and kind to everyone. He cares about his connections with others and creating a better world ... Since he was a small child, he has been a wise soul—calm, happy, humble, and full of love. He is tender with his parents, supportive and committed to his sister, and kind to all of his family members, coworkers, and friends."

Pereboom told Patch that she hopes people reading Lipton's story are reminded to "Keep learning and exploring" and 'make every moment of their lives full,' just like Lipton did.

Editor's Note: Patch is a GoFundMe promotional partner.