Anita L Hazen 1926-2007

Anita Hazen was a character and a big booster for competitive swimming, whether as an age-group mom, sitting through endless swim meets with her daughters Karen and Lisa (who swam for Arden Hills), or as a Masters swimmer in her own right (who was so well regarded for her help in putting on the races in past years that the 2007 Maui Channel Swim was named in her honor).

For many years, she made sure that the Senior Games in Sacramento were run according to USMS rules, so that participants’ times would count for the USMS records. Anita had 69 USMS Top 10 rankings, at the same time her daughter Lisa was also earning Top 10 rankings—an unusual mother-daughter pair of champions!

Outside of swimming, she was also a community activist, working on Loaves and Fishes, meals for the homeless and needy. She played banjo with the Sacramento Banjo Band. She kept her nursing license current and was a member of the Sacramento Medical Auxiliary.

She always said what she thought, knew everyone and everyone knew her. She was a pepper!

Anita died after a short battle with pulmonary fibrosis. She is survived by her husband, Andy, two daughters and a son.

Excerpt from the 2008 UNITED STATES MASTERS SWIMMING CODE OF REGULATIONS AND RULES OF COMPETITION - Published by United States Masters Swimming Inc.

Anita was named as a Long Distance All American for Women 55-59 in 1983 and again in 1987. She also received the 1995 Long Distance All-Star award in the women 65-69 age group as a result of scoring the highest finish place point total from all of the Long Distance Championship events for that year.