 Joseph Kurtzman, 73, had his first brutal introduction
to the water when he was "thrown in to sink or swim," by
older water-savvy brothers. His first competition was at age 10. "I
took Third Place in the 'Skeeter Class with the 20-yard dog-paddle,'"
he says proudly. He comes from an athletic family, and his younger
brother, Aaron, is also a Maverick. When he left grade school he was
Captain of the swimming team, and also at Princeton, where he did
his Pre-Med degree. The Navy first brought him to Charleston in 1952
when he replaced the Ship's Surgeon killed in an accident. He later
was stationed in South Carolina and Florida and, as a high-record
holder, made the U.S.N. Olympic Swim Team. When he and his young family
settled in Charleston permanently in 1961 he set up practice as an
ophthalmologist. Having three young boys of his own, he helped organize
the first Star Fish Swimming Team in Charleston, in 1964. He coached
and his boys competed. His youngest swims in Masters meets. Kurtzman
was happy to retire in 1989, "when the Good Lord granted a lifelong
wish for a lap pool." Hurricane Hugo filled his small office
building with enough water to swim in. He lost a lifetime's medical
records and called it quits. He has US and World records in the fly,
and was on two Maverick World record relays. Joe, his wife, Sabina
and dog, Penny, live in Charleston.
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