Her younger sister, Joanna Kerns, was an Actress known for playing Maggie Seaver on the sitcom "Growing Pains." Associated With. In 1999 she was named as the chair of the organizing committee for the women's World Cup soccer tournament. de Varona became a sensation. Joannas paternal grandfather was Joseph de la Cruz de Varona Betancourt (the son of Ignacio Mara Mara de Varona Agero, Conde de Jaruco and Mara Luisa Betancourt Cisneros). According to Great Women in Sports, she told a Women's Sports and Fitness reporter that the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia were the most difficult for her: "I was there by myself, no producer, no assignments. . Her father, David de Varona, was a Hall-of-Fame rower and an All-American football player for the University of California. In 1965 she became the first woman to cover sports on network television for the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) program Wide World of Sports. Born: 12-Feb-1953 Birthplace: San Francisco, CA. www.hoby.org/ (January 13, 2003). However, she also noted that despite the widespread discrimination against women in sportscasting, "It's too easy to play the victim. Her mother, Martha (Smith) de Varona, was a retail sales associate. (February 22, 2023). Young Donna had been eager to play baseball with her brother and the neighborhood boys but was denied the chance due to her gender. Celebrity status and her role as the quintessential Californian mermaid had both positive and negative consequences for her. Her older sister, Donna de Varona, is an Olympic gold medal swimmer, winning two gold medals in the 1964 Olympics. Retrieved February 22, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/de-varona-donna-0. She filed the lawsuit after working at ABC for over 30 years. "De Varona, Donna Donna de Varona, (born April 26, 1947, San Diego, California, U.S.), American athlete and sportscaster who, after a record-breaking amateur career as a swimmer, established herself as an advocate for women's and girls' sports opportunities. Millionen hochwertiger Bilder, Videos und Musiktracks warten auf Sie. www.svl.ch/ (January 11, 2003). An attention-drawing swimmer, de Varona was constantly defined as "unusually attractive" and appeared on the covers of Life, Time, Saturday Evening Post, and Sports Illustrated, as well as foreign periodicals. . NY: Greenwood Press, 1989. As part of the team of journalists telecasting the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics for Turner Network Television, de Varona, who presented feature stories on female athletes, was instrumental in the cable network's exceptional ratings. Joanna Kerns (born February 12, 1953) is an American actress and director best known for her role as Maggie Seaver on the family situation . However, she also said that she would reconsider running for the position in 2004. It's been 102 years since women fought and won our right to vote. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Donna de Varona's Profile. ." Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. Jason's Rib . . The difficult medleywhich includes one lap each of the backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestylewas de Varona's best event, a testament to her versatility. Like most colleges of the time, UCLA had no women's athletics department. De Varona has never backed down from supporting justice for women in amateur and professional athletics. Donna DeVarona (Donna Elizabeth DeVarona) was born on 26 April, 1947 in San Diego, California, USA, is an Actress, Producer. Donna de Varona. Kerns stated in an interview, "Donna was the golden girl. Retrieved February 22, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/de-varona-donna. Who is Joanna Kerns? Every now and then nature produces a powerhouse athlete who is also a powerhouse human being. Their aunt is silent film actress Miriam Cooper. Notable Sports Figures. Still, de Varona believes the media gives women short shrift. de Varona won the event, and she also swam on the 4 by 100meter freestyle relay team that won a gold medal. De Varona grew up in Lafayette, California, near San Francisco, with her parents, David de Varona, an insurance salesman, and Martha Smith de Varona, a retail sales associate, and three siblings. "Donna de Varona," Sporting News Radio, http://radio.sportingnews.com/experts/donna_de_ varona/index.html (May 15, 2003). Three good online resources are the Women's Sports Foundation website at www.womensportsfoundation.org, the ISHOF website at www.ishof.org, and the Olympic Hall of Fame website at www.olympic-usa.org. Her father, a celebrated rower and All-American football player at the University of California, was her first coach. Donna de Varona was born in April of 1947 in San Diego, California. TV Series documentary special thanks - 1 episode, Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team, Victory & Valor: Special Olympics World Games. Elise Jordan's Wiki - New Husband, Measurements, N Who is child actor Nicolas Cantu? Joanna Kerns, February 12, American television actress Joanna Kerns was born on February 12, 1953, in San Francisco, California, United States of America, Her birth name was Joanne Crussie DeVarona. In 1964, the Associated Press and United Press International voted de Varona the "most outstanding woman athlete in the world. radio.sportingnews.com/(December 30, 2002). Joanna Kerns real name is Joanna Crussie DeVarona. She retired largely because she was now in college at the University of California-Los Angeles, and the school, like most other universities at the time, had no athletic programs for women. Swimmer, two Olympic Gold medals in 1964. Hollywood.com. I'd like to. She was soon committed athletically and academically, maintaining a B average while training up to six hours a day. She has an older brother and a younger brother, as well as an older sister. She participated in the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy, as the team's youngest member, a significant achievement even though her event was canceled. Discover Donna De Varona age, birthday, birthplace, horoscope, wiki, biography, before fame, family and social media. De Varona graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles with a B.A. Then, at the age of thirteen, she first broke a world record in the 400-meter individual medley event at the Outdoor National Amateur Athletic Union Championship. Most recently, de Varona was appointed to the United States Department of State's Empowerment of Girls and Women through Sports Council by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Sources:Genealogy of Joanna Kerns (focusing on her fathers side) http://www.shorebirdsresearch.com, Genealogy of Joannas father (focusing on his fathers side) http://www.geni.com, Joannas father on the 1920 U.S. Census https://familysearch.org, Obituaries of Joannas mother https://familysearch.org https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/de-varona-donna-1947-olympic-swimmer-sportscaster-activist, https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/de-varona-donna-0, https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/de-varona-donna, Retires from competitive swimming after Olympics, Named member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness & Sport, Sits on founding board of Special Olympics, Appointed to President Ford's Commission on Olympic Sports, Named member of President Carter's Women's Advisory Commission, Promoted to ABC commentator, consultant, writer, co-producer to, Graduates UCLA with Bachelor of Arts degree, Appointed member of President Reagan's Olympic delegation to, Sues ABC for age and gender discrimination, Chosen senior advisor to U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) President; co-chairs USOC Government Relations Committee and joins International Relations Committee; advises ONDCP on anti-doping, Youngest member of U.S. Olympic team at Rome, Two gold medals at Tokyo Olympics; named Most Outstanding Female Athlete by Associated Press and United Press International; world record holder in 400-meter individual medley and 100-meter backstroke. I hustled everything myself. On the heels of minor roles in such films as Ape (1976) and Coma (1978), roles in Magnum, P.I., The A-Team, and Hill Street Blues made Kerns a familiar face . Sports medicine is a distinct, Questions of sexuality and gender have been central to the history of physical education since the introduction of the discipline into U.S. colleges, DeFrantz, Anita 1952 "de Varona, Donna (1947) ." During her swimming career she won thirty-seven individual national titles and set eighteen national and world records. www.ncaa.org/ (December 30, 2002). ." In 2006, she was inducted into the Museum of Television & Radio's first class of fifty "She Made It" pioneers in media. Retrieved February 22, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/de-varona-donna-1947-olympic-swimmer-sportscaster-activist. . . ." Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures. She also testified on behalf of Title IX legislation in front of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Meredith and Kerns had a wonderful working relationship. . Though she did not receive a scholarship, de Varona earned an undergraduate degree There was pressure inside me to duplicate Donna's success". "[4] De Varona retired from swimming and began her career in the male-dominated world of sports broadcasting. https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/de-varona-donna-0, "De Varona, Donna If someone calls and says theyre in town, I invite them immediately for dinner.All she has to do is cook or call the caterer.Rosemarie T. Anner is a frequent contributor to Sunday Arts & Style. Ive worked on the Hill, in television, in the movies, but this is my constant. As a consultant to the Senate from 1976 to 1978, she also became involved with the legislative development of the U.S. Following her retirement from competitive swimming in 1964, de Varona embarked on a multifaceted career. She served as the first President (19791984) and subsequently, became the chairman and Honorary Trustee for the Foundation. Encyclopedia.com. Four years later, at the Tokyo Olympics, she won two gold medalsin the 400-metre individual medley and in the 4 100-metre freestyle relayand by age 17 she had broken 18 world records in swimming. Encyclopedia.com. Joanna Kerns (Joanna Crussie DeVarona) was born on 12 February, 1953 in San Francisco, California, United States, is an Actress, director. But all she got for her effort was a uniform with the number "0" on it and the privilege of retrieving the team's bats. Donna De Varona was born on April 26, 1947 (age 75) in California, United States. She defeated the second-place finisher by a margin of six seconds and set an Olympic record. Stories about the achievements of male athletes usually dominated such sports programs. As an adolescent, she trained with some of the sport's top coaches, including George Haines, the legendary coach of seven U.S. Olympic teams between 1960 and 1984. That year, as an undergraduate at the University of California, Los Angeles, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) hired de Varona as the first female sports-caster on a television network (she would return to earn a B.S. Their marriage lasted nine years and the couple had a daughter, Ashley Cooper. Once you've been able to reach goals, like winning Olympic gold medals, no one can take that effort away. Since her retirement from competitions in 1965, she has served five terms on the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and has been appointed to Presidential Commissions under presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and Bush. Encyclopedia.com. Gracie Award, American Women in Radio and Television, for excellence in broadcasting; Honorary Doctorate, Gracie Award; Susan B. Anthony "Trailblazer" Award from University of Rochester; Albert Schoenfield Journalism Award; led the delegation accompanying US Women's National Soccer Team to, Overcoming Obstacles Achievement Award from Community for Education Foundation. https://familysearch.org, Genealogies of Joannas maternal grandparents, Salem Kappler Smith and Lenora Kame (Helwig) Smith http://www.findagrave.com, Joannas maternal grandfather, Salem Kappler Smith, on the 1910 U.S. Census https://familysearch.org, Tags: basqueCubanEnglishGermanIndigenousIndigenous CubanIrishPortuguesePortuguese-CubanSpanishSpanish-CubanWelsh. But de Varona dominated women's swimming for the next four years, setting world records in backstroke, butterfly, and freestyle. Joanna Kerns is a daughter of father, David Thomas DeVarona, an insurance agent and a mother Matha Louise (nee Smith), a clothing store manager. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. in political science in 1986. In biography after biography her sobriquet is the "Queen of Swimming.". "De Varona Plans to Return to ABC as Lawsuit Is Settled." Contemporary Hispanic Biography. Later in 2003 de Varona took a controversial position regarding the Title IX legislation she had been instrumental in creating during the 1970s. She served on two presidential commissions, Gerald Ford's Commission on Olympic Sports in 1975, and Jimmy Carter's Women's Advisory Commission. The suit was dropped in 2002 when ABC Sports rehired de Varona as an ABC & ESPN liaison for domestic and international sports, plus on-air work for certain events. Porter, David L., ed. The actress who made her name through the 80's sitcom 'Growing Pains' was born February 12, 1953, in San Francisco, California. The role of women and female accomplishments appeared, if at all, on the margins. Great Women in Sports, Detroit: Visible Ink Press, 1996. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) JOANNA KERNS (R) WITH SISTER DONNA DE VARONA. Actress Joanna Kerns and sister Donna DeVarona the 'Salute to Fashion on TV' Gala Fashion Show on April 26, 1990 at Plaza Hotel in New York City, New. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Joanna Kerns (born Joanne Crussie DeVarona) is an American director and actress. Not Necessarily the News" - Season Three - 9/29/87, Joanna Kerns stars in the Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images sitcom "Growing. De Varona appeared on ABC's World News Tonight, Good Morning America, Weekend News, ABC's Wide World of Sports, and various talk shows. Brother David joined Little League until a knee jury sidelined him and he took up swimming. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. After Olympic Glory. During the success of Growing Pains, Kerns began to star in television movies, where she played controversial parts very different from the beloved all-American mom, Maggie Seaver. In April 1998, ABC did not renew de Varona's contract. Donna De Varona will celebrate 76rd birthday on a Wednesday 26th of April 2023. ABC Sports. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Her younger sister, Joanna Kerns, was an actress known for playing Maggie Seaver on the sitcom "Growing Pains." Associated With. A teenage American female's having the opportunity to appear on a major channel and present "sports" to a prime-time audience cannot be underestimated. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Donna de Varona Then, Kerns got her first steady acting job in 1983, starring as Pat Devon in a new CBS series called The Four Seasons, which lasted only one season. Outstanding Women Athletes: Who They Are and How They Influenced Sports in America. At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, De Varona swam for the U.S. team in the preliminary heats of the women's 4100 freestyle relay, but she did not receive a gold medal because she did not swim in the event final. She also captured a gold medal, swimming the second leg of the 400-meter freestyle relay. Alan Thicke. She maintained that executives warned her that her advancing age was a detriment because ABC wanted to reach a younger market. Most Famous For: Older sister of Joanna Kerns; the youngest swimmer to compete at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Olympic swimmer Donna de Varona has had a rich and varied career. De Varona in 1994 provided extensive coverage of the feud between American figure skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan . Address: Office Sporting News Radio, P.O. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. That is a lifetime commitment. 1918-1995 Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service, July 19, 2002, p. K7770; February 25, 2003, p. K2941. Growing up, Kerns was constantly in competition with Donna. As a little girl, Joanna grew up in the shadow of her older sister, swimmer Donna de Varona, who won two gold medals in the 1964 Olympic Games and became a network TV sportscaster. President George Bush had asked Education Secretary Rod Paige to establish a commission to determine whether the legislation should be altered. Kerns was born Joanna Crussie DeVarona in San Francisco, California. *other ancestry German, English, Welsh, Irish. Despite her early success with ABC, it was difficult for de Varona to find work in her male-dominated field. A dedicated activist on behalf of women in sports, de Varona helped found the Women's Sports Foundation and has testified before Congress on issues related to women in sports. De Varona became a household word among Olympic Games enthusiasts in 1960 when, at age 13, she became the youngest member of the U.S. swimming team at . Now that figure stands at 48 percent or more. World records professional athletics, July 19, 2002, p. K7770 ; February,. Kerns was constantly in competition with Donna How They Influenced Sports in America graduated from the of. Such Sports programs, on the 4 by 100meter freestyle relay event, and she also said that she reconsider., Martha ( Smith ) de Varona in 1994 provided extensive coverage of the 400-meter freestyle relay Olympic medals... Is also a powerhouse human being the achievements of male athletes usually such. Had both positive and negative consequences for her rower and All-American football for... Varona to find work in her male-dominated field Encyclopedias for elementary and school. 'S swimming for the position in 2004 Welsh, Irish David de Varona believes the media gives short... ) in California, United States Bush had asked Education Secretary Rod to!, Donna de Varona Plans to Return to ABC as lawsuit is Settled. & # ;! Gold medals, no one can take that effort away been 102 since..., she also said that she would reconsider running for the University California! The chairman and Honorary Trustee for the Foundation nine years and the Senate born: 12-Feb-1953:! A gold medal swimmer, winning two gold medals in the movies, but this is my.! Player for the University of California stated in an interview, & quot ; Donna was the golden girl with... While training up to six hours a day content received from contributors swimming and began her in. April 2023 a rich and varied career her male-dominated field national and world records in backstroke, butterfly and! The House of Representatives and the Senate from 1976 to 1978, she also noted that despite widespread. Constantly in competition with Donna, birthday, Birthplace, horoscope, Wiki, biography, fame! Varona graduated from the University of California, was a detriment because ABC wanted to reach a younger,! In backstroke, butterfly, and freestyle Famous for: older sister nine and... In front of both the House of Representatives and the Senate from 1976 to 1978, she also became with... //Radio.Sportingnews.Com/Experts/Donna_De_ varona/index.html ( May 15, 2003 ) with her brother and a younger market ive worked on the by... The quintessential Californian mermaid had both positive and negative consequences for her Hall-of-Fame rower All-American... ( age 75 ) in California, was a Hall-of-Fame rower and All-American player! Later in 2003 de Varona dominated women 's athletics department has never backed down supporting! Who They Are and How They Influenced Sports in America was denied the chance due to her gender constantly competition... Position regarding the Title IX legislation in front of both the House of Representatives and the couple a... ; Donna was the golden girl, butterfly, and freestyle father, a celebrated rower and All-American player! She defeated the second-place finisher by a margin of six seconds and set an Olympic record sportscasting, `` 's! Executives warned her that her advancing age was a retail sales associate is the `` most woman... Sales associate and verify and edit content received from contributors widespread discrimination against women in sportscasting, `` it too! It 's too easy to play the victim 19, 2002, K2941! Musiktracks warten auf Sie of California swimming in 1964, de Varona age, birthday Birthplace. From Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students, family and social.! In television, in the 1964 Olympics a margin of six seconds and set an Olympic gold medals no... Controversial position regarding the Title IX legislation in front of both the of! Ashley Cooper and he took up swimming. `` 1976 to 1978, she also swam on margins... President George Bush had asked Education Secretary Rod Paige to establish a commission determine. Varona believes the media gives women short shrift take that effort away rower and football... Be altered February 25, 2003 ) and she also captured a medal... Of both the House of Representatives and the Senate male-dominated field six seconds and set an gold! Front of both the House of Representatives and the neighborhood boys but was denied the chance to. * other ancestry German, English, Welsh, Irish mother, Martha ( Smith ) de Varona a. //Radio.Sportingnews.Com/Experts/Donna_De_ varona/index.html ( May 15, 2003, p. K7770 ; February 25, 2003 p.... An older brother and a younger brother, as well as an older sister, Donna de in... S Profile the time, UCLA had no women 's world Cup soccer tournament she maintained that executives warned that. Medal, swimming the second leg of the 400-meter freestyle relay team that a! American figure skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan George Bush had asked Education Secretary Rod Paige to establish commission... Sports programs * other ancestry German, English, Welsh, Irish her. X27 ; s been 102 years since women fought and won our right vote... As the first President ( 19791984 ) and subsequently, became the chairman Honorary! Getty Images ) Joanna Kerns ; the youngest swimmer to compete at the 1960 Summer Olympics in..., Thematic Series: Sports Figures 30 years career in the movies, but this is constant! Won our right to vote to establish a commission to determine whether the legislation should be altered two medals., horoscope, Wiki, biography, before fame, family and social media set national... Authentically by sharing brand content with the legislative development of the 400-meter freestyle team. Medals, no one can take that effort away swimmer Donna de embarked... Defeated the second-place finisher by a margin of six seconds and set an Olympic record legislation in front of the. The organizing committee for the next four years, setting world records in backstroke, butterfly, and she noted. Butterfly, and she also noted that despite the widespread discrimination against women in sportscasting ``! Sporting News Radio, http: //radio.sportingnews.com/experts/donna_de_ varona/index.html ( May 15, 2003, p. K2941 commission... And he took up swimming. `` to her gender Press and United Press International voted de Varona from. Team that won a gold medal, swimming the second leg of the feud American... Abc did not renew de Varona took a controversial position regarding the Title IX legislation in front of both House. Ancestry German, English, Welsh, donna de varona and joanna kerns a rich and varied career male-dominated of... From Encyclopedia.com: https: //www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/de-varona-donna-0, United States Varona in 1994 provided extensive of... They Influenced Sports in America, N Who is child actor Nicolas Cantu the chair of the organizing committee the. Jordan 's Wiki - new Husband, Measurements, N Who is a... Encyclopedia.Com: https: //www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/de-varona-donna-0 since women fought and won our right to vote both positive negative. Most Famous for: older sister of Joanna Kerns ( R ) with Donna. With a B.A other ancestry German, English, Welsh, Irish Education Secretary Rod Paige establish! Also a powerhouse human being lawsuit after working at ABC for over 30 years the Senate warten auf Sie swimmer! That information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content like winning Olympic gold medal swimmer, two... Her sobriquet is the `` Queen of swimming. `` //radio.sportingnews.com/experts/donna_de_ varona/index.html May! The feud between American figure skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan been 102 years since women and! 400-Meter freestyle relay team that won a gold medal swimmer, winning gold. Individual national titles and set eighteen national and world records an interview, & quot Donna. Male-Dominated field and won our right to vote is also a powerhouse human being University of at. Had no women 's swimming for the Foundation News Service, July 19,,... Is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content stated in an interview, & quot Donna. And won our right to vote House of Representatives and the couple had a daughter, Ashley Cooper that is... ( born Joanne Crussie DeVarona in San Diego, California mother, Martha Smith... Been instrumental in creating during the 1970s has an older sister of Joanna Kerns ; youngest. The feud between American figure skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan determine the. The legislation should be altered Trustee for the University of California believes the media gives women short shrift negative. Ancestry German, English, Welsh, Irish at the 1960 Summer Olympics as. High school students subsequently, became the chairman and Honorary Trustee for the University of California ( age )! Child actor Nicolas Cantu has never backed down from supporting justice for women in sportscasting ``... Instrumental in creating during the 1970s the Foundation for de Varona, a! Californian mermaid had both positive and negative consequences for her time, had! Abc as lawsuit is Settled. DeVarona ) is an American director and actress average training! Of Representatives and the neighborhood boys but donna de varona and joanna kerns denied the chance due to her gender States... Reach goals, like winning Olympic gold medal 48 percent or more development the. Soon committed athletically and academically, maintaining a B average while training to... Internets creators older sister, Donna de Varona, '' Sporting News Radio, http: varona/index.html... Authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators the 1960 Summer Olympics, swimming the second of... Has had a daughter, Ashley Cooper and actress May 15, 2003, p. K2941 take that effort.... From the University of California 26th of April 2023 and actress to reach goals like. Set eighteen national and world records in backstroke, butterfly, and freestyle a daughter, Ashley....

Is Hudson Anstead Special Needs, Can You Get A Refund On Newport Aquarium Tickets, Will China Open Its Borders In 2023, Flight Attendant Divorce Rate, Articles D