Joan P. Smith, Ransom Arthur Recipient, 1921-1912

[michaelmoore]

Joan Smith, a long time Pacific Masters volunteer and Ransom Arthur recipient passed away at home with her husband Richard and family by her side on April 10th. She was 90 years old. She had experienced health issues for some time.

Joan was a valued member of Pacific Masters. She attended our monthly committee meetings, proof read all the Pacific Masters Top Ten listings and compared them with the USMS Top Ten lists to be sure that all our swimmers who deserved to be on the national listings were included. She had an eagle eye and was a natural for this task. She volunteered many years at the Lake Berryessa Swim to process new Pacific Masters registrations. Joan served on the Pacific Masters Executive Committee as Vice Chairman of Administration.

In 2000, she and her husband Richard were the recipient of the US Masters Swimming Ransom Arthur Award, USMS's highest award for volunteers.

She was selected as a delegate to the USMS Convention for over 20 years, along with her husband Richard. At the national level she served on the International Committee, Officials Committee and Records and Tabulations Committee. She was also the USMS Historian.

For many years she served as a Stroke and Turn Official, and supported our program in this way until knee problems forced her to retire, as she could no longer stand on the deck for hours at a time. In 1986 Joan was selected Pacific Masters Contributor of the Year, Pacific Masters highest voluteer award.

She and Richard were recruited to Pacific Masters by George Cunningham who also lived in Sacramento at the time. She and Richard participated for SAC Masters, TAM, and Walnut Creek. She was a loyal and greatly appreciated member of these clubs. Joan leaves behind her husband Richard, and two sons. There will be no service. Cards or notes may be sent to Richard Smith at 4309 Surita Street, Sacramento, CA, 95864. This is an extraordinary loss for us.

USMS Page on the accomplishments of Joan Smith.

Joan will be missed.

-michael

[Rob Copeland]

Joan will be missed.

-michael

Amen

Thanks for passing this along.

[Gail Roper]

Joan and Dick used to live in Santa Rosa.............when I started the Santa Rosa Swim Club age group team, I recruited their son when I noticed him in rec swimming and thought he had talent. When I started the masters team there and ran one of the first masters meets, I recruited Dick to swim. Dick became an official for the age group team and Joan joined him later. Both of them have spent many hours timing, judging and swimming. Yes, Joan will be greately missed.