Add a Memory
Make a Donation
Ann Curtis Obituary
Her daughter Carrie Cuneo said Thursday she died at her San Rafael, Calif., home of complications of Alzheimer's disease on June 26, weeks before the games returned to the city where she won international acclaim.
Born in 1926 in San Francisco, Curtis started her swimming career at the age of 12. She didn't get to compete in the Olympics until they resumed in 1948 following a 12-year hiatus due to World War II. By then, she had already won eight national titles and broken 18 U.S. records.
"I was lucky that the Games restarted at a time I was still competing. There were awfully good swimmers before my time, and it was too late for them," Curtis told The San Francisco Chronicle in 2008.
It was Curtis' only Olympics. She took medals in all three events she competed in: gold in the 400-meter freestyle, gold in the 4x100-meter relay and silver in the 100-meter freestyle. She would go on to become a paid athlete, participating in water shows and competing in U.S. masters championships. She was elected to the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1966.
"She swam in the Olympics in her prime, and it's hard to revisit that," Cuneo said.
Curtis married Gordon Cuneo a year after the Olympics, and they had their first of five children in 1950. Her daughter recalls Curtis' modesty about her success and fame, never discussing her career unless asked.
"We came across the medals going through the drawers and asked 'What's this? It's pretty. Can I play with it,'" Cuneo said.
In the early 60s, Curtis moved to San Rafael and started a swimming school, where she coached for 25 years. Her students included Olympians Rick DeMont and Ben Wildman-Tobriner.
Curtis stopped swimming several years ago, but took up water aerobics and water wal king, her daughter said. Curtis' husband died in 2010. She is survived by four children.
FENIT NIRAPPIL, Associated Press
Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
15 Entries
Harry Simpson
June 26, 2017
Godspeed, and thank you for sharing a part of your life with us.
June 26, 2014
May our Heavenly father, Jehovah, bless you and your family with his holy spirit to help you with this most difficult time.
Shorty Koppelman
August 2, 2012
Rest in Peace..You are now with our Lord and Savior..Jesus Christ
How you can show support
Erskine Shaw
July 29, 2012
I am sorry to read of Ann's passing. I am from George Washington High, class of 1944.
July 29, 2012
May the God who supplies endurance and comfort”… sustain you in your time of need through prayer, the comfort of fellow believers, and his Word the Bible.–Ro 15:5.
With Deep Sympathy,
L.G--West P. Bch., FL 33407
Florida
July 29, 2012
To the family of Ann Curtis: May the God of peace provide your family with all the peace, comfort & strength you all need to cope with this loss, at this difficult time.
Scott Chamberland
July 27, 2012
Rest in Peace
July 27, 2012
Adrienne, sad to see this. We were friends at Galilo High Shool in San Francisco.
Karen Davis
July 27, 2012
May her passion be replicated in this year's Olympics, by these current Olympians. Rest in peace!!
July 27, 2012
To the family: May the God of all comfort, comfort you as you move forward during this time of grief. My deepest sympathy.
July 27, 2012
To the the family of Ann Curtis - May God give you peace and comfort through his word and the Lord Jesus Christ during this time of sorrow, I know that she will be missed by many.
July 26, 2012
To the family of Ann Curtis:
May God give you peace, strength and comfort during this difficult time.
Psalms 46:1 says: God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Lifting all the family up in prayer. God bless you during your time of sorrow. So sorry for your loss.
S., Alabama
Showing 1 - 15 of 15 results
Make a Donation
in Ann Curtis's name
How to support Ann's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Ann Curtis's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read moreMore ways to support the family
Visit the Sympathy Shop
Sponsored