Mercury News
San Jose, California
Wed., Nov. 20, 1985
Page 11B
OWEN CHURCHILL, 89, DESIGNED SWIM FIN
Owen Churchill, the first person to win an Olympic yachting gold medal for the United States and the designer of the rubber swim fin, has died at his home at 89.
Churchill, who skippered the 50-foot racing sloop "Angelita" to victory in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, died Nov. 12.
During the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, Churchill once again guided the Angelita -- during a parade of boats.
The deteriorating yacht, discovered in a Santa Cruz shipyard, was restored and named flagship for the 1984 Games.
''I'll remember his face as he sailed Angelita as a parade boat during the 1984 Olympics. I don't remember ever seeing a happier man," said former Olympics president Peter Ueberroth. "He gave a lot. He'll be missed."
Richard Moore, a member of the 1932 medal-winning crew, remembered Churchill as "a gentleman . . . a fine skipper who never blamed a loss on his crew."
Churchill, who also took part in Olympic contests held in Amsterdam in 1928 and Berlin in 1936, was the mastermind behind the swim fin.
After hearing stories about Marquesas islanders in the 1930s who swam with woven leaves attached to their feet, Churchill designed the rubber fin. He first tried out his invention on friends Johnny Weismuller and Buster Crabbe, reportedly beating the two Olympic swimmers in a swimming race.
During World War II, Churchill's fins were used by English and American frogmen landing in Europe.
Churchill, who attended Stanford University, started his boating career in 1919 after his mother gave him a sailboat. During his 20 years of racing, he garnered more than 250 trophies and was made a member of dozens of yacht clubs. Churchill is survived by his wife, two daughters, one stepdaughter, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
No services were held. A family spokesman said Churchill's ashes would be scattered at sea from the Angelita.
San Jose, California
Wed., Nov. 20, 1985
Page 11B
OWEN CHURCHILL, 89, DESIGNED SWIM FIN
Owen Churchill, the first person to win an Olympic yachting gold medal for the United States and the designer of the rubber swim fin, has died at his home at 89.
Churchill, who skippered the 50-foot racing sloop "Angelita" to victory in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, died Nov. 12.
During the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, Churchill once again guided the Angelita -- during a parade of boats.
The deteriorating yacht, discovered in a Santa Cruz shipyard, was restored and named flagship for the 1984 Games.
''I'll remember his face as he sailed Angelita as a parade boat during the 1984 Olympics. I don't remember ever seeing a happier man," said former Olympics president Peter Ueberroth. "He gave a lot. He'll be missed."
Richard Moore, a member of the 1932 medal-winning crew, remembered Churchill as "a gentleman . . . a fine skipper who never blamed a loss on his crew."
Churchill, who also took part in Olympic contests held in Amsterdam in 1928 and Berlin in 1936, was the mastermind behind the swim fin.
After hearing stories about Marquesas islanders in the 1930s who swam with woven leaves attached to their feet, Churchill designed the rubber fin. He first tried out his invention on friends Johnny Weismuller and Buster Crabbe, reportedly beating the two Olympic swimmers in a swimming race.
During World War II, Churchill's fins were used by English and American frogmen landing in Europe.
Churchill, who attended Stanford University, started his boating career in 1919 after his mother gave him a sailboat. During his 20 years of racing, he garnered more than 250 trophies and was made a member of dozens of yacht clubs. Churchill is survived by his wife, two daughters, one stepdaughter, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
No services were held. A family spokesman said Churchill's ashes would be scattered at sea from the Angelita.
Mercury News
San Jose, California
Wed., Nov. 20, 1985
Page 11B
OWEN CHURCHILL, 89, DESIGNED SWIM FIN
Owen Churchill, the first person to win an Olympic yachting gold medal for the United States and the designer of the rubber swim fin, has died at his home at 89.
Churchill, who skippered the 50-foot racing sloop "Angelita" to victory in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, died Nov. 12.
During the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, Churchill once again guided the Angelita -- during a parade of boats.
The deteriorating yacht, discovered in a Santa Cruz shipyard, was restored and named flagship for the 1984 Games.
''I'll remember his face as he sailed Angelita as a parade boat during the 1984 Olympics. I don't remember ever seeing a happier man," said former Olympics president Peter Ueberroth. "He gave a lot. He'll be missed."
Richard Moore, a member of the 1932 medal-winning crew, remembered Churchill as "a gentleman . . . a fine skipper who never blamed a loss on his crew."
Churchill, who also took part in Olympic contests held in Amsterdam in 1928 and Berlin in 1936, was the mastermind behind the swim fin.
After hearing stories about Marquesas islanders in the 1930s who swam with woven leaves attached to their feet, Churchill designed the rubber fin. He first tried out his invention on friends Johnny Weismuller and Buster Crabbe, reportedly beating the two Olympic swimmers in a swimming race.
During World War II, Churchill's fins were used by English and American frogmen landing in Europe.
Churchill, who attended Stanford University, started his boating career in 1919 after his mother gave him a sailboat. During his 20 years of racing, he garnered more than 250 trophies and was made a member of dozens of yacht clubs. Churchill is survived by his wife, two daughters, one stepdaughter, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
No services were held. A family spokesman said Churchill's ashes would be scattered at sea from the Angelita.
San Jose, California
Wed., Nov. 20, 1985
Page 11B
OWEN CHURCHILL, 89, DESIGNED SWIM FIN
Owen Churchill, the first person to win an Olympic yachting gold medal for the United States and the designer of the rubber swim fin, has died at his home at 89.
Churchill, who skippered the 50-foot racing sloop "Angelita" to victory in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, died Nov. 12.
During the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, Churchill once again guided the Angelita -- during a parade of boats.
The deteriorating yacht, discovered in a Santa Cruz shipyard, was restored and named flagship for the 1984 Games.
''I'll remember his face as he sailed Angelita as a parade boat during the 1984 Olympics. I don't remember ever seeing a happier man," said former Olympics president Peter Ueberroth. "He gave a lot. He'll be missed."
Richard Moore, a member of the 1932 medal-winning crew, remembered Churchill as "a gentleman . . . a fine skipper who never blamed a loss on his crew."
Churchill, who also took part in Olympic contests held in Amsterdam in 1928 and Berlin in 1936, was the mastermind behind the swim fin.
After hearing stories about Marquesas islanders in the 1930s who swam with woven leaves attached to their feet, Churchill designed the rubber fin. He first tried out his invention on friends Johnny Weismuller and Buster Crabbe, reportedly beating the two Olympic swimmers in a swimming race.
During World War II, Churchill's fins were used by English and American frogmen landing in Europe.
Churchill, who attended Stanford University, started his boating career in 1919 after his mother gave him a sailboat. During his 20 years of racing, he garnered more than 250 trophies and was made a member of dozens of yacht clubs. Churchill is survived by his wife, two daughters, one stepdaughter, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
No services were held. A family spokesman said Churchill's ashes would be scattered at sea from the Angelita.
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