Obituary: Don Bragg, May 15, 1935 – Feb. 16, 2019

Olympic Gold Medalist and former Clayton resident Don Bragg died Feb. 16 at his home in Oakley after a long illness. He was 83.

Bragg won the gold medal in the pole vault at the Rome Olympics in 1960 and set a new world record.

Bragg was the last of the pole vaulters from his era to use an aluminum pole, which was heavy and inflexible and required the “Tarzan” like strength he acquired growing up in New Jersey. He set up his own “Tarzanville” on the family property in New Jersey where he would swing from tree to tree, yelling like Tarzan, with childhood sweetheart Theresa Fiore on his back.

The 6’3” Bragg always hoped to play Tarzan in the movies like his hero, Johnny Weissmuller, but that dream never materialized.

Bragg had no formal training in the pole vault, teaching himself with bamboo poles salvaged from a local furniture store. After encouragement from his high school coach, Bragg was recruited for the Villanova University track and field team.

Two months after winning the 1960 gold medal, he returned home to New Jersey and married Theresa. He found his calling in youth sports, serving as special assistant for youth affairs and recreation to the governor. In the summers through the 1960s and ‘70s, the Braggs ran Kamp Olympik for boys in Penns Grove, New Jersey. They later moved to California.

In 2003, the Braggs lost their home in Clayton to a devastating fire that also destroyed much of their memorabilia. A fireman was able to retrieve the framed medal from the smoke-filled house.

After the fire, they retired to a senior community in Southern California where they lived until Don suffered a stroke on Father’s Day 2009. They moved back to Clayton to be closer to family. Last year, they moved to Oakley.

In 2010, Bragg was a guest of honor at the 50th anniversary of the 1960 Rome Olympics, where he appeared on the podium giving his legendary Tarzan yell one more time.

In addition to Theresa, Bragg is survived by sons Mark and Jeff, daughters, Tracey Bragg and Renee Bragg, 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Family and friends celebrated Bragg’s life at an outdoor ceremony in Oakley last month.