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While stationed in Turkey, 1968, he swam his only open water race. It was tiring pushing corn cobs, cigarette packs and other unmentionables out of his way while swimming. He didn't swim again until the Good Life Games at age 55. DeTore has degrees in guidance, counseling and social psychology. He traveled the world with the USAF for over 28 years and worked in communications, electronics and logistics. His greatest accomplishment is surviving those years serving his country, in spite of being spit on, cursed at and shot at in all corners of the world. After retiring, he worked in the St. Pete, FL area for E-Systems, as a cryptographic electronic tester; private school athletic director and lastly, as an analytical lab tech for Transitions Optical Inc. He retired in 2004, but continues to work there as needed. He serves on the board of trustees for the Panama Canal Museum, Seminole FL. He joined the Mavericks in 1988 so he could swim in the Nike World Masters Games, Portland, OR. He placed 14th out of 17, but was so pumped up about swimming with world class athletes, he was hooked on Masters. His goal is to become more disciplined in practice, so he can be an individual All American, like many of his teammates. He lives in Seminole, FL, with his wife, Inge and has two children. His two grandkids from Germany spend summers picking up swimming tips from Opa. |
Gerry DeTore, 63, was born in Philadelphia, PA, but lived on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal Zone through high school. He joined the HS swim team as a Jr. and placed 2nd in his first race, breast stroke. That made him mad! He won every race after that. At 16, he wanted to swim from the Atlantic to the Pacific with a Navy Capt, but his mom wouldn't allow it.