Passing of Jeff Baird
By Katy James
I have some sad news to share. One of my favorite swimmers and relay mates, Jeff Baird, passed away March 29, 2021 in Grand Junction, Colorado. He was 62. All I know is that he was at the pool.
Jeff was involved in competitive swimming since way before high school. He was on the ASU swim team and he was proud of the fact he held a national record at one point before it was broken again 8 minutes later. He coached for Wickenburg High School for a few years. He also competed with Phoenix Swim Club, Swim Devil Masters, and Arizona Masters. I first met him when he volunteered to run our AZLMSC elections in 2012. Jeff, Dave Evans, Christie Altman and I were on a 400 meter free relay together a couple years back that was Number 1 in the Fina World Masters rankings.
I asked two of Jeff’s favorite swimmer friends what they liked most about Jeff.
From Terry DeBiase, former AZLMSC Chair and SDM super swimmer:
Jeff was as unpretentious as the day was long. Jeff was non-judgemental and favored the same courtesy in return. If you were looking for information and an opinion on a subject, you need look no further than Jeff. He loved to compete in the pool, but I always sensed he loved more to visit with his fellow masters swimming friends. He was always up to speed on the latest medical research as it applied to physiology and our swimming. I loved hearing his latest ideas on some new training technique or exercise routine or medicinal alternative, but they were never offered in an obsessive way. He would probably cringe to hear it, but there was an academic research quality to his musings, with his willingness to fill the role of test subject as necessary. Jeff, among the many new holes out there, there is a gaping one in AZ masters swimming without you buddy.
From Dave Evans, SDM super swimmer:
I raced against Jeff for many years. What I admired was his ability to not be emotionally attached to the outcome of his swims, as well as his occasional unfiltered commentary.
I will really miss Jeff. I was really looking forward to swimming on relay with him again soon.
Passing of Ted Haartz
by Judy Gilles
One of USMS’s longest members and founding fathers passed away on Jan. 1st 2021. Ted was 92. Ted was an Arizona Master Swimmer who lived in Green Valley for approximately the last 25 years. Before he moved to AZ, Ted live in the New England area and was the founder of New England Masters.
He was USMS president from 1978 through 1981. He worked with Robert Beach, Ransom Arthur and June Krauser to start USMS in the very early 1970’s. Ted told me Robert Beach kept the individual records, June kept did the newsletter and he kept the relay records. Just a reminder to those of you reading this, in the early 1970’s there were no cell phones or internet. Everything was done with landline phone calls, stop watches, and copy paper. Ted held many top 10 records in the 50, 100, and 200 yard and meter breaststroke events. He also was one of the very first master swimmers to become USA-S certified as an official. He swam in and officiated almost every national meet during his time. I am personally aware of at least one, if not two, rule changes that took place because of calls he made at national meets. It has also been said that he attended every Board of Directors meeting through this last Zoom Annual Meeting we had this past September.
If you would like to see a photo and more on Ted you can look on Facebook under Frank (Skip) Thompson. Skip wrote a wonderful background on Ted and how much he meant to USMS and so many of us. His wife, Lee, still lives in Green Valley.
Election Results!
Congratulations to the new Arizona LMSC Executive Board.
Chair: Katy James
Vice Chair: Liz Hobbs
Secretary: Kathy Gallagher
Treasurer: Marianne Rexer
Thank you to the previous Executive Board members for their service.
AZ Senior Games Swim Meet
By Judy Gillies
For all of you wondering what is going on with our Annual AZ Senior Games (Olympic) Swim Meet that is held the last Sunday in February here is the latest information:
I have had a Zoom meeting with Irene Stillwell, who is the head of the AZ Senior Games, and Anthony Baumann, who is in charge of Recreation and Aquatic Facilities for the City of Chandler. Due to the fact that Covid-19 cases are increasing in AZ, and the restrictions for facilities is getting tighter, it looks like we will NOT have a meet this February. Let me tell you, I was ready. I had figured out a way we could do it from the way the age-group meets that I have officiated were run. However, no matter what I suggested they just kept putting road blocks in my way. There are now too many restrictions. Therefore we have rescheduled for November 6th, 2021 for our 2021 games and then February 26th for our 2022 games.
The National Senior Games will occur May 10-23, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The NSGA has extended the qualifying period through December 31, 2021. For more information on the NSG, including qualifying times, visit https://nsga.com/ If you have any questions please email Judy Gillies.
The Edie & Dan Greunder Award
Lindsey Urbatchka receives 2019 Award for Service to AZ LMSC
From her nomination application: “Lindsey has proven herself a very valuable member of the AZLMSC in the many years she has been associated with with us…She offered her services as the Immediate Past Chair of the AZLMSC Board of Directors. The past president…had moved to Canada, leaving his very important position on the Board open. Without hesitation, Lindsey stepped up the fill the big fins of …Past Chair. Lindsey took on this role after spending many years as the Board Secretary. Lindsey has been a leading force of our success as a Board… Lindsey is so knowledgable on all the AZLMSC Policies and Procedures… She stepped up to host our AZLMSC Annual Meeting at her house when we were unable to find a workable restaurant…Lindsey is always volunteering for special committees. This is incredible considering she is in the midst of starting her own business and being a mom to her toddler son!
“According to Lindsey’s husband, Jonah, ‘Lindsey has been swimming Masters for 14 years. After her success at the University of Kansas Swimming Team, she found a home at Mesa Aquatics. She has set several national records and is constantly striving for Top Five in her age group. Lindsey is passionate about cheering on her teammates/friends…Through her drive and commitment, she has overcome a broken foot, back surgery, a double mastectomy and the birth of her son, Kyler. As she battled back from each one of those bumps in the road it was her getting back to swimming quickly that motivated her to keep at it.’
“She is such a positive force for all of us in Arizona Masters. She brings a sense of lightheartedness to all situations. She makes swimming for Arizona something to be proud of. She always brightens my day with her positive, can-do attitude. I figure if Lindsey can find the time to volunteer to our great organization, we all can!”
PAST GRUENDER AWARD WINNERS
- 2018 Brigid Bunch
- 2017 Barry Roth
- 2016 Doug Adamavich
- 2015 Doug Springer
- 2013 Jeff Baird
- 2012 Mark Rankin
- 2011 Paul and Laura Smith
- 2010 Katy James
- 2009 Colleen Jennings-Roggensack and Kurt Roggensack
- 2008 Max Von Isser
- 2007 Ron Johnson
- 2006 Judy Gillies
- 2005 Jim Stites
- 2004 Mark Gill
- 2003 Edie and Dan Gruender