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
Aside from all considerations above, about the need for medical exams and so forth, here is the deal: you die in a small plane accident, you're front page, you die in a car accident, you don't make the news. You die while swimming, you are headlines, you die in your sleep, only the family knows about it. There is a perception, of death while exercising, that is news, that generates debate. Die in a marathon, the whole world knows about it. Seems like a prejudice from sedentary people against the rest. I am sorry someone died while exercising, but believe me, a lot more died from lack of exercise. In a healthy person, whatever age, you tire out, you get fatigued, before you can reach a stage where you would damage your heart. Exercise does not cause heart disease. I've seen studies done (when I was present) with subjects with known heart disease where you put them on the treadmill and had them get up to a certain effort where their cardiograms start showing angina and the patients themselves start telling you about pain in their arms, numbness in their cheeks...then you ease on the stress exam, but for sure no one gets killed. In other words, the chance that a test will tell you not to swim faster or to go slower is rare. Believe me, you will be out of breath before your heart gives up on you. Okay, bring out your counter arguments...billy fanstone
Aside from all considerations above, about the need for medical exams and so forth, here is the deal: you die in a small plane accident, you're front page, you die in a car accident, you don't make the news. You die while swimming, you are headlines, you die in your sleep, only the family knows about it. There is a perception, of death while exercising, that is news, that generates debate. Die in a marathon, the whole world knows about it. Seems like a prejudice from sedentary people against the rest. I am sorry someone died while exercising, but believe me, a lot more died from lack of exercise. In a healthy person, whatever age, you tire out, you get fatigued, before you can reach a stage where you would damage your heart. Exercise does not cause heart disease. I've seen studies done (when I was present) with subjects with known heart disease where you put them on the treadmill and had them get up to a certain effort where their cardiograms start showing angina and the patients themselves start telling you about pain in their arms, numbness in their cheeks...then you ease on the stress exam, but for sure no one gets killed. In other words, the chance that a test will tell you not to swim faster or to go slower is rare. Believe me, you will be out of breath before your heart gives up on you. Okay, bring out your counter arguments...billy fanstone
