Anne McLogan Herman

Anne McLogan Herman, one of the most decorated female wheelchair athletes in San Diego history and a longtime disabled and women’s rights activist, passed away on Tuesday, September 25, at Sharp Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. She was 69.

During a 50-year career as a disabled athlete, Anne participated in scores of national and international meets and won dozens of gold, silver and bronze medals, primarily as a swimmer but also in several track and field events.

She was a member of the U.S. team that participated in the Paralympic Games in Munich, Toronto and Atlanta; represented her country at the Stoke Mandeville Games, a precursor to the Paralympics, in England as well as at the Pan American Games in Mexico City. From 1974 to 1984, she set seven national records in a variety of swimming events.

Among her many honors, Anne was inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions as Wheelchair Athlete of the Year; named to the Flint Michigan Sports Hall of Fame; and acknowledged by Sharp Memorial Hospital as a winner of its Victory of Spirit award.

An ardent skier, she frequented the slopes at Big Bear and Purgatory in Durango, Colorado, where she was actively involved in their Adaptive Sports Association disabled ski program.

Born and raised in Flint, MI, Anne attended Saint John Vianney Catholic School, graduated from Wayne State University and later earned a masters in marriage and family counseling from San Diego State University.

After an auto accident left her a quadriplegic at 18, she became involved in wheelchair sports.

An avid swimmer before her accident, she often credited her success to Durant-Turri-Mott Flint

Community School Director, Bill Hamilton and to her supportive family and friends. She met her future husband, Paul Herman, also an accomplished wheelchair athlete, during a meet in the Midwest. They married in 1977 and moved to San Diego that same year, living in Mira Mesa since then.

Anne enjoyed an extensive career in counseling, first with the San Diego public school system and then for many years with Sharp Memorial Rehab as an outpatient social worker. While at Sharp she was instrumental in the creation of the hospital’s landmark women’s spinal cord support group. She was also a prime mover in the formation of a highly-regarded San Diego-based wheelchair dance group. She was a member of Mira Mesa Presbyterian Church for 30+ years where she taught Sunday school and was active in their women’s group.

Preceded in death by her parents, Don and Mary Lou (Vance) McLogan of Flint, MI. she is survived by her husband, Paul, her loving son, Donald, daughter-in-law, Lupe, and grandson, Donny as well as three doting sisters, Sue Behrendt, Barb Bellairs, and Becky McLogan and many adoring nieces, nephews and cousins.

Following her death, Paul said: “Anne’s life was filled with love and passion for family, friends and important causes, but no less for dancing, swimming and skiing. She will be missed by so many but our wonderful memories of her will sustain us forever.”

Should friends desire, memorial donations may be online at www.wheelchairdancers.org

or mail to: Beverly Weurding, Wheelchair Dancers, 4584 Calle de Vida, San Diego, CA 92124.