Kevin Berry, one of the great butterflyers of our time died yesterday at the age of 61. He was from Australia but swam for Indiana University and was one of Doc Councilman's best foreign recruits in the early 1960's. I remember seeing films of Kevin Berry swimming fly that Doc Councilman sold to swim coaches for people to learn to swim the fly. He swam in the Big Ten Conference at the same time Rich Abrahams did. I have provided a link to a story of Kevin teaching the Pope to swim.
www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../12942.aspwww.catholicweekly.com.au/.../13.html
I never knew Kevin while swimming in college, but I did get to hang out with him a bit during an international competition in 1965. He was one of those larger than life characters you meet every once in a while; very personable and funny. It's sad to hear of his passing. I believe he'd been seriously ill the last several years.
Russell Salmon, one of my masters teammates reminds me that Kevin stayed on in Bloomington after graduating from Indiana University working for the daily newspaper, The Herald-Telephone. His most remembered story, based on his research and knowledge, summarized: at this time if all of the other best swimmers in the world were to swim in a meet against DOC Counsilman's Indiana University team, DOC's I.U. team would win.
