HILLSDALE—Dr. Robin Nemeroff’s father, Stanley, has always been a man of numbers. As a former investment analyst, he’s spent his life with a keen eye for goals and calculations. Now, on the cusp of his 85th birthday, Stan has completed an extraordinary personal milestone—running the equivalent of the Earth’s circumference, nearly 25,000 miles, over the course of his lifetime.
Stan, who turns 85 this week—Oct. 25—just finished the last stretch of his 25,000-mile journey during a visit to his daughter’s home in Hillsdale. Robin, who lives on Drake Drive, has welcomed her parents to live with her family for extended stays over the past few years, providing a familiar backdrop for Stan’s daily runs.
“He’s been running for as long as I can remember,” Robin says. “It’s his thing, his way of staying fit and feeling connected to the world around him. He announced this goal 10 years ago, right before his 75th birthday, to run the circumference of the Earth by 85, and here we are—celebrating that incredible achievement.”
For Stan, running has always been a deeply personal practice. While never competitive, he participated in races such as the Great Cow Harbor 10K in Northport, N.Y. and in events with his investment firm, but his primary focus was always on maintaining his own health and fulfilling long-term goals. His love for numbers—honed during his years as an investment analyst—plays a big part in his commitment. He’s kept meticulous track of his miles, noting his routes and distances without relying on apps or devices. For Stan, it’s all about precision and determination.
A Lifetime of Dedication
Born into a family that valued physical activity, Stan followed in his father’s footsteps. His dad, Robin’s grandfather, was a passionate runner long before jogging became popular. This active lifestyle became a cornerstone of the Nemeroff family, as Stan carried the torch with his steady dedication.
“My grandfather ran until he couldn’t anymore—until he broke his hip—but it kept him going,” Robin reflects. “I see the same thing in my dad. He’s slowed down, but he’ll keep running as long as he can move. It’s who he is.”
Even now, with his pace slowed to a fast walk, Stan remains committed. “He’s very methodical, plodding, and steady,” Robin says. “He tracks every mile he runs, and if he ever misses a day, he makes it up.”
Stan’s journey is not just about fitness—it’s a personal labor of love that connects him to his past and his family. He and Robin—a professor in the Department of Psychology at William Paterson University, “specializing in community interventions, mind-body approaches to well-being, and lifespan issues”—call each other from his runs and her walks.
He’s been running the same routes for decades, calculating mileage no matter where he’s lived, from Long Island to Rockland County and now Austin, Texas.
As Stan approached the finish line of this journey, his family recalled that 10 years ago he’d hoped to have them at his side on his final runs toward the goal. When we spoke, Robin, along with her cousins and other relatives from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas, were preparing to pace him for the final stretch. They surprised him with special “Run Stan Run” shirts—an homage to Forrest Gump’s iconic running scenes—to wear during the celebration.
And, having conquered the planet, what’s next?
“My dad’s not done yet,” Robin says with a laugh. “He’ll keep going. Running is who he is.”
The celebration included a family run through Northport, Long Island, where Stan and his wife lived for decades. “We surprised him, and the local paper sent a photographer… It’s a special place for him, and it was like bringing his journey full circle.”
The next day, more family members joined for a local run in Hillsdale, followed by a gathering in Teaneck to accommodate younger family members afterward. Robin’s son, a student at Pascack Valley High School, also participated in the celebration.
“My dad’s never been one to seek out attention or praise,” Robin says. “He’s just out there doing his thing, but this time, we’re all going to be there with him.”
For Robin and her relatives, Stan is much more than just a runner. “He’s the rock of our family,” she says. “Everyone loves and trusts him. He’s always there for us—whether it’s financial planning, advice for school, or just being a steady presence. I am very lucky to have him as my dad.”
And running has always been Stan’s way of staying healthy and grounded. Despite long hours commuting back and forth from Long Island to his job in Manhattan, he made time to run every Wednesday night and weekend. “It was his escape, his way of taking care of himself,” Robin says. “My mom always had her advice on health care, but my dad would just say, ‘I run. I take care of my body.’”
via his daughter, Robin.
Even at nearly 85, Stan’s drive remains unchanged. He monitors his time, noticing how he’s slowed over the years, but he never lets that deter him. “If he sees someone younger running en route, he tries to keep pace with them for as long as he can,” Robin says. “That’s just the kind of person he is—he’ll keep going as long as his body lets him.”
As the family prepares to celebrate Stan’s 85th birthday, they’ve planned a few special outings, including a visit to Old Westbury Gardens on Long Island. The estate, once the home of the Phipps family—who played a key role in the rise of Carnegie Steel and lived in this Gilded Age masterpiece for decades—holds particular significance for Stan. His former investment firm managed a trust established by the Phipps family, and the connection has stayed with him. Now, he’s excited to tour the estate and share the experience with his family.
“That’s really all my dad wants, to spend time with family,” Robin says.