Obituaries

Linda and David Pain enjoyed his 90th birthday party in 2012 at the San Diego church where he'll be remembered on April 6.

Obituaries March 17, 2019

Celebration of Life for David Pain set for April 6 at San Diego church he attended

Friends and family of David Pain, the Columbus of masters track, will gather at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at Faith Presbyterian Church near his San Diego home for a Celebration of Life. On Sunday, his family-written obituary appeared in The San Diego Union-Tribune. Read it here. Among many other things, we learn that David “started a lawn-cutting business and worked full time as a gardener throughout high school. His love of gardening continued into his 80s with a plot filled with vegetables as well as many flower varieties, including prize-worthy Epiphyllums. During his senior year, he became a U.S….

Linda and David Pain, observing a masters meet as honored guests, made everything possible for us.

Obituaries February 16, 2019

Our founding father has passed: David Pain dies at 96 at home in San Diego

I’ll share my own memories later. For now, please see my obituary of David Pain on Times of San Diego. It’s impossible to overstate what David meant to me, the sport and the world. Please join me in wishing deepest condolences to Linda Pain and their extended family. Meanwhile, here are some touching remembrances from his 90th birthday party and 2014 salute by the San Diego Track Club.

Obituaries February 2, 2019

Gookinaid inventor Bill Gookin of San Diego dies at 86; ran distances into his 40s

Friday afternoon, I was decompressing after a busy week by checking Facebook. Then I came across a post by Olympian Ruth Wysocki, who replied to a sad note about the death of Bill Gookin, a San Diegan famed for inventing the Gookinaid fluid-replacement drink. I jumped into action, contacting Gookin’s first wife Donna (a masters track and LDR star) and Bill’s daughter Debra. I wrote several San Diego running gurus and did a ton of Googling for my story in Times of San Diego. I didn’t finish writing, tweaking and formatting until 5 a.m. I’m proud of the result. (I…

Barbara Kousky followed Jerry Donley as TAC national masters chair in the 1980s.

Obituaries December 20, 2018

Barbara Kousky dies at 77; former national masters chair helped organize 1989 Eugene worlds

Former national masters chair Barbara Kousky has died at age 77, according to a spokesman for the Prefontaine Classic. Jeff Oliver, spokesman for the Diamond League meet in Eugene, Oregon, where Kousky once lived and partnered with meet director Tom Jordan, said Thursday: “Barbara sadly passed away last weekend. No funeral or memorial arrangements have been made as of yet.” Kousky — pronounced COW-ski — headed masters track under The Athletics Congress (TAC), which later became USA Track & Field. In 1990, she was named winner of the David Pain Award for Distinguished Service to the sport. Kousky and Jordan,…

Dan Bulkley, near reaching the finish line of life, wore the colors of Southern Oregon University, where he coached.

Obituaries December 18, 2018

Dan Bulkley dies at 101; Masters Hall of Famer made mark in hurdles — and love of many sports

Dan Bulkley died a winner. Even better, he was a player — someone who competed in track (and other sports) just for the joy of it. As his local Oregon paper reported Monday: “Bulkley, a famous masters athlete and pioneer of [Southern Oregon University’s] physical education programs and Mt. Ashland Ski Area, died Sunday evening. The Phoenix resident was 101 and, said his daughter, Dani, of Bend, ‘His philosophy was that the less you do, the less you do — and the more you do, the more you do.’ His secret was to keep moving. He fractured his back a…

George (right) won too many awards to mention.

Obituaries May 2, 2018

George Kleeman dies at 77; USATF technical official at many WMA meets

George Kleeman was a superstar in his field — officiating track meets on the national and international stage. When he died April 22 at 77, a week after a major heart attack, he deserved his kudos. Services were Monday in Pleasant Hill, California. Among his dozens of major meets — USATF masters national in 1993, 1995 and 1997 and world masters meets in 1985, 1989, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2011. “Many recognize Kleeman’s numerous contributions to national and association events and committees over the past three decades, but he was also an accomplished distance runner in the 1960s-70s…