from the PacMasters Update Email
Ross Shoemaker, RIP
1942-2007
Ross Shoemaker died suddenly at the Senior Games following one of his swims. Ross had collapsed on the deck, and was not able to be revived. It is a terrible loss - Ross was a longtime member of the San Mateo Marlins, a warm and supportive man, and a devoted swimmer with an encouraging word for everyone.
Ross coached at Chabot Junior College for many years. Services are pending.
I don't think I need to point out the frequncy with which these unfortunate events have been occuring recently. Should active swimmers be getting stress echos or something as they get older? Are simple BP and lipid screens simply not enough?
Parents
Former Member
Ross was a year younger than I am and I certainly competed against him in a virtual sense although I can't recall ever meeting him. The loss is a shame.
I was also at the meet where Parry O'Brien died. He was one of my childhood heros and that loss is great also.
I have known Ron Johnson for more than a decade and am very glad his heart attack did not turn out as the other two.
One thing that would be interesting to study is the relative frequency of heart attack deaths among competing swimmers compared to the normal population. Are we more likely, less likely or equally likely to die from heart attacks? Considering that we preach the benefits of exercise to our lifestyle it would be important to see if the numbers bear that out.
I'm in general agreement that I'd rather go in a swim meet than almost any other way I can think of. It's not going to bother me but it will undoubtedly be stressful on others around me at the time. However, I still feel immortal and am not the least bit intimidated at this point. Apparently, that must be a part of the human condition to the living, so long as we are not obviously in poor health.
Ross was a year younger than I am and I certainly competed against him in a virtual sense although I can't recall ever meeting him. The loss is a shame.
I was also at the meet where Parry O'Brien died. He was one of my childhood heros and that loss is great also.
I have known Ron Johnson for more than a decade and am very glad his heart attack did not turn out as the other two.
One thing that would be interesting to study is the relative frequency of heart attack deaths among competing swimmers compared to the normal population. Are we more likely, less likely or equally likely to die from heart attacks? Considering that we preach the benefits of exercise to our lifestyle it would be important to see if the numbers bear that out.
I'm in general agreement that I'd rather go in a swim meet than almost any other way I can think of. It's not going to bother me but it will undoubtedly be stressful on others around me at the time. However, I still feel immortal and am not the least bit intimidated at this point. Apparently, that must be a part of the human condition to the living, so long as we are not obviously in poor health.
