Dr. Burwell (Bumpy) Otis Jones

March 23, 1933 - February 6, 2021

Dr. Burwell Otis Jones passed away Saturday, February 6th, 2021 due to Alzheimer’s complications with his family at his side. Not only was he a beloved dermatologist in Sarasota, but also an Olympic-level swimmer, breaking world records both at the collegiate and Masters level. Bumpy was born March 23rd, 1933 to Burwell John Jones and Kathryn Jones. His summers were spent on a boat moored at the Detroit Yacht Club. By age 2, Bumpy was swimming on his own. Immediately, his talent in the water was evident. He started competing in the club's swimming races at age 5. At age 12, he started training at the Matt Mann swimming camp at Camp Chikopi in Magnetawan, Ontario where he would climb ranks quickly. He would go on to swim at Redford High School and then at the University of Michigan. Bumpy's proclivity for swimming led to many accomplishments. He was a high school and collegiate All-American, and a three-time NCAA champion for the University of Michigan. He was the captain of the Michigan swim team. He competed in the first Pan American Games in 1951 where he won a bronze medal in the 100 meter backstroke, and a gold medal in the 4x200 meter freestyle relay. After extensive training, he had earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team in 1952. At the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, he was a member of the gold medal winning 4x200 meter freestyle relay in preliminary heats. Bumpy was a Sullivan Award Nominee in 1955. He set three world records in the 400 individual medley. He also holds, and will always hold, the world record in the 150 meter individual medley. After his professional swimming career came to a close, he attended the University of Michigan Medical School. Following his degree, he interned at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI. He underwent residency at three locations: the University of Virginia, the United States Air Force, and finally at Duke University, his focus became dermatology. In the USAF, he was a Captain in the Air Force Medical Corps in Montgomery, AL. It was during this time that he transferred his pool skills to the green, and became an accomplished golfer. He developed a lifelong love of the game, and he won many tournaments at the local and state level. Golf Championships included Sarabay Club Champion (Sarasota 1985), Laurel Oak Club Championship (Sarasota 1993), Laurel Oak Couples Club Championship (Sarasota 1994), Gator Creek Senior Club Championship (Sarasota 1992), TPC Senior Club Championship (Sarasota 1992), Sarasota County Senior Championship (Sarasota 1991), Florida State Senior Match Play Championship (1993) and winner of 32 Tournaments of Senior Golfers of America In 1965, he moved with his family to Sarasota, FL to open a private dermatology practice. Bumpy retired from dermatology in 2006 after 41 years of treating generations of Sarasota families. Apart from his practice, working out in the pool, playing a game of golf, boating on the Sarasota waters, Bumpy also volunteered with the Senior Friendship Center and Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Bumpy wasn't one to quit training or admit defeat. He was instrumental to the founding of the Masters Swimming Program. Still an incredible swimmer, he began his Masters career at age 38. During the next decades, Bumpy would go on to win 110 National Masters Championships, 5 FINA Masters Work Championships, 7 Canadian and 22 YMCA Championships. He has set 39 FINA Masters World Records, 145 Masters National Records, and he has been among the top 3 Masters World Rankings 66 times. He would train with the swimmers half his age or more, and he always stepped up the the challenge. He trained with the Sarasota Sharks Swim Team, and the Sarasota High School team. His Masters times nearly equaled his collegiate times. The Bumpy Jones International Swim meet is hosted by the Sarasota Sharks Masters every year at the Selby Aquatic Center. He married Kathleen Jones in 1992. They spent many years travelling around the world to compete in golf tournaments together and she also accompanied him at his swim meets. Together they built a home in Laurel Oak Estates where they have been members since 1990. He is survived by the following: his wife Kathleen Ann Jones, his son BJ Jones (Judy), his daughter Eney Jones, (Jeff), his daughter Kathleen Jones Stottlemyer (Kent), his daughter Maureen Jones, his stepdaughter Denise Thiem (Sharon), his stepson Troy Thiem (Mary), and nine grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father Burwell, his mother Kathryn, his brothers Norman and Richard, his sister Mary and his son James Goding Jones. Services will be held on Wednesday, February 17th at Sarasota National Cemetery at 12:30 PM. In lieu of flowers or gifts, you may make a donation to Tidewell Hospice