Abbott to Speak in Newport About Boston Bombing Tragedy

Boston Marathon bombing survivor Heather Abbott, a Newport resident who lost part of her left leg as a result of injuries she suffered in the Boston Marathon attack, will share her story on Wednesday night.  

Abbott’s presentation will be given on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. in Bazarsky Lecture Hall, located in O’Hare Academic Center on Ochre Point Avenue. The event is free and open to the public.  

On the day of the bombing, Abbott and six of her friends attended a Red Sox game at Fenway Park before going to the Forum restaurant together. While waiting in line to enter the restaurant, which is located near the marathon’s finish line, the second of two bombs exploded near her. Badly injured, she was carried to safety by former New England Patriots lineman Matt Chatham and his wife, Erin, who were supporting a fundraiser at the Forum that day for the Joe Andruzzi Foundation.

As a result of injuries to her left foot, Abbott had her left leg amputated below the knee, joining 15 others who underwent amputations related to the bombing.

A Rhode Island native, Abbott grew up in Lincoln and graduated from Lincoln High School. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Stonehill College, a master of business administration from Providence College and a certificate in human resources management from Roger Williams University. She is certified in human resources management by the Human Resources Certification Institute.

She is currently employed as manager of human resource compliance and equal opportunity at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. She’s responsible for the division’s Affirmative Action Plans, Department of Labor audits and discrimination claims for approximately 14,000 employees across the U.S.