Below is the eulogy by Earl’s sister:
Updated with funeral arrangements.
Earl Osborne passed away yesterday due to complications from blood cancer. He was a stalwart of New York racing for three decades, admired and beloved for his gentle demeanor. Our condolences to his friends and family. We invite you to share your remembrances and tributes.
Foundation Cycling will send their team to the Tour de Tobago to memorialize Earl in his native land. If you wish to contribute to this, send a check donation made out to Foundation Cycling New York and put in the memo section in Memory of Earl Osborne to:
Ric Wolf
Foundation Cycling New York
201 East 77th Street, Suite 8EF
New York, NY 10075
Here’s Earl’s Funeral arrangements:
Viewing
Benta’s Funeral Home
630 St. Nicholas Avenue (141th Street and St. Nicholas Ave)
Phone : 212 281-8851
Time: Thursday July 28th, 2011 from 5 pm – 8 pm
Funeral Service
Bethel Gospel Assembly (120th Street between 5th and Madison Ave.)
2-26 East 120th Street
Phone: 212 860-6765
Time: Friday July 29th, 2011 at 10:00 A.M.
Internment
Cypress Hills Cemetery
833 Jamaica Ave.
Brooklyn NY 11208
718 277-4538
Time: Immediately after funeral services
Friends and family can meet for refershments after at:
Heaven for all Ocasions (between Nostrand and Lloyd Ave)
2808 Church Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11226
Very nice gentleman. I’ve been racing for less than 5 years, but I remember riding him from time to time in the morning and him offering to give me a ride to PP when I was running late for a race. I also ran into him participating in community service events around the city. He was easy to spot because he would wear his Foundation jacket. If there is a way we can donate something on his behalf, please share that information.
I remember a few years back he talked about his illness and just shook his head and laughed, indicating he would fight it and ride on.
Last year, he rode briefly with Big George and a few of us. With some prodding, he mentioned his best TT times to GH, who was impressed.
A quick glance at results shows he took three Club masters wins. But I think most of us remember him more as a really nice guy who made friends easily on the bike.
i met earl while marshaling the river road TT a couple years ago, we spent a long time chatting down by the circle, and i was totally enamored by the man. great attitude and sincerely interested in my relationship with cycling and racing. very cool guy who definitely left an impact on me!
I did not know Earl that well, but saw him often in the park. The announcement made on Sunday before the race was very sad. He was always quick with a wave or a “how you doing” and you knew that he meant it. Sometimes you just have a good feeling about a person and their character. Earl was such a person.
RIP Earl
sorry to hear that. good guy.
It is very sad to see great poeple like Earl leave this planet, he was the type of person that represented the good will of cyclist community to the best.
Great guy great friend!
Rest in peace Earl
Very sad indeed. He was a very nice gentleman.
Rest in peace Earl.
Earl was not only a great cyclist but an accomplished runner and educator. He set an excellent example for the kids he taught, showing them the great benefits of a life dedication to health and fitness.
very sad to hear this. Earl was a great guy all around. Rest in peace.
Sorry to hear about this. From my first race years ago he was always around, always kind and always ready to ride. He will be missed.
RIP sir. Don’t know you but I hope cycling made your life great while on this earth.
hate to hear this. Earl was always a friendly face in the park riding around. He will be missed.
was this Dave Osborne’s father
Rest in peace, Earl.
Earl,
Your presence will be missed, you are a great soul.
Very sad to hear. a very big lost to our community.
my condolences go out to his family.
I will miss you my brother. I will do my best to spread the same unselfishness you spread in the cycling community .
I thank you for being my FRIEND.
Nelson
Earl was a fixture in Central Park and the NYC cycling community and had a positive influence on many of his peers and younger riders. He was a role model who gave more than he took. He will be missed and not forgotten.
Sad news indeed. I rode and raced with Earl many times. He imparted upon me the most profound cycling wisdom ever when I told him I thought racing was hard. His response, which I will never forget, was:
‘Racing is fun. TRAINING is hard.’
RIP Earl.
PC
My thoughts and prayers go out the Osborne family, (his brother Ruben in particular). Earl’s passing reminds us all to live life to the fullest…
Earl was a fixture in the cycling community. He was a long time bike racer, most recently with Team Foundation. He lived for the weekly Gimble’s ride in the Bronx and could be found at most cycling venues around the town. His intelligence, quick wit and passion for the sport will surely be missed.
RIP Earl. You were a great example of class and toughness on the bike. We will miss your gentle wise presence in CP.
I first met Earl about 18 years ago, when, as a new racer, I was performing my obligatory marshalling assignment by driving the pace car in front of the B field. Earl, sensing my unfamiliarity with race tactics, took off at the gun, gapped the field, and glued himself to my rear bumper as I focused on the Park Drive ahead of me. It wasn’t until I got past the Guggenheim that I noticed he was drafting off the car. Earl stayed away for four laps that day, eventually got caught on the last lap.
We became teammates a few seasons later on the newly formed Strictly Bicycles squad. Earl was a major contributor in a significant way: he sought out rising juniors and brought them to our team. He devoted a lot of time to ensuring that the teens had rides to races, equipment, and mentoring. His contribution to grassroots racing in New York was a significant one.
We always need more Earl Osbornes than the world provides….
Oh man- I am saddened to hear of Earl’s passing. Met Earl maybe 20 years back. As we road I once mentioned I ran the NYC Marathon. Of course I had to mention my time of 3:08. As we continued talking he mentioned he ran marathons also. Being the competitive beasts we all are, I politely asked what his finishing time was. He responded in a very friendly and matter of fact way. His time was half an hour faster. Rest in peace Earl
I met Earl years ago at Boone, Young & Associates. He was my co-worker for fifteen years. Saying he was a co-worker does not send the message as to how close we all were, we were a family and hearing of his passing, pains me. Earl was fun, he always made us laugh. Rest in peace Earl, you will be missed.
Condolences to his his family.