Name: Jane Nichols
Age: 81
Occupation: Image Analyst – mainly satellite imagery of vegetation
Local Team: CGM–Columbia Gorge Masters
The one thing that was always constant for me was swimming. It gave me a place to try to do my best. It gave me a place to heal (when needed) and know that things would be okay. Fortunately, it was, and is, there for me.
I learned to swim through the Brownies program (that merit badge was some reward).
Our little summer recreational team competed against the new Santa Clara Swim Club in early 1952, and I beat all of George Haines’s 10 year olds. SCSC asked me to come swim for them, and I did until I graduated from Los Gatos High School in 1959. My mom was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer also in 1952, and swimming helped me keep it together. I was George’s 2nd National winner, as Carol Tate McPherson was the first. I won the 220 yds fly in Houston, Texas. I think it was in 1955, and was held at the old Shamrock Hilton Hotel pool.
I went to the Olympic Trials in 1956 as a 14 year old, made the finals in the 100 Fly, and beat Portia Hancock, a teammate whom I often raced against. I graduated from San Jose State in 1972 with a BA in French and a Masters in Geography, ABD (All But Dissertation). Upon graduating I raised two kids and coached at San Jose State for the next five years. I also worked with recreational and high school swim teams in the SF Bay Area.
In the late 1970s – and on – I worked as an Image Analyst identifying vegetation types on satellite imagery for the customer, and then tied the satellite imagery to ground imagery. I worked for companies who did work for the government. I also cataloged the U-2 imagery at NASA Ames. That was fun. It was at this time that I met my forever mate and gained three more kids. We had a full and busy home. It wasn’t until about 1987 or so that I started up with Masters, and that was because of Nancy Ridout’s strong encouragement; first in South San Francisco and later here in Hood River, OR. Talk about the feeling of coming home! I did the Alcatraz Swim once and that was enough. Give me a lane line any time!
When we moved from CA to Hood River, I was the Hood River Valley High School swim team coach, which enabled me to know the community quickly. I did that for 7 years while running a 4 bedroom B&B full time. I really don’t know how we did it all!!
Swimming cleans out the brain, keeps the joints from locking up, and gets me out of my daily routine. I love the friends I have made. The conversations in the locker-room keep me up to date on the younger folk.
Great to visit you and your swimming life. But, what happens when the pool is closed up, covered over with blue tarps, as in the photo?
What a gal!!! Jane you are amazing, so glad to swim in the pool with you.
Very good Jane! You have quite a history with swimming. Hope to cross your path someday soon. I imagine you may know Jeff Farrell. He’s a friend of mine from Santa Barbara.