Frances Cichanski, 91, is the youngest of nine children. She was born in the very small town of Whittemore, MI (population under 500), where she spent all of her early years. Her family moved to Pontiac, MI, during Jr High School. From there, it was on to the big city of Detroit, where she finished her education.
Cichanski considers 1938-1963 "wonderful years in my life." She worked in the field of anesthesia, for oral surgeons. One day, while at work, there was a death, next door. When the police came, she had to give her name, as a witness. The Detective Sergeant, from the Detroit Police Dept, that interviewed her, was Leo. It was "love at first sight." Later that year, they were married. They owned a 26' Chris Craft Roamer boat, and cruised on Lake Huron, during their free time.
In 1963, they retired, sold their home and boat, and moved away from the snow and cold, to sunny Florida. After they settled in Clearwater, they bought a 26' sail boat. At this time of life, it was "sink or swim!"
Cichanski says, "Learning to swim was easy for me. I became a member of the St. Pete YMCA, and Pat Eckelkamp was my coach. My first lessons were in synchronized swimming. I competed for a couple of years, however, that was not my answer. I just wanted to do lap swimming."
In the 70's, she and Kay Schimpf, entered their first Masters meet, in St. Pete. Cichanski joined the Mavericks in 2000. In 2005, she was a member of the first 85+ Women's Relay, for the One Hour Postal. Her relay still holds the National record, with a distance of 5,590 yards. In 2008, she was one of three Maverick 90 year olds, who completed the Hour Swim (see page 5).
She is "thankful for a wonderful life, and swimming has been a big part of it, and always will be, especially in my later years."
Cichanski lost "my kind, caring, loving husband in September, 2004." She lives by herself, in Clearwater, FL.

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