DANIEL
BUKANTZ
Sport: Official/Administrator
Inducted: 2001
Country: United States
Born: December 4, 1917, in Bronx, New
York
Died: July 26, 2008
Daniel Bukantz was a fencing judge at eight Olympiads from 1952 to 1984
(except the U.S.-boycotted 1980 Games) and World Championships in
1958, 1967, and 1983. Nearly every event he officiated was a final or
semifinal match. Three times, 1952, 1956, and 1960, he was both a competitor
and a referee. Bukantz was inducted into the Fencing Hall of Fame in
1978.
At the 1983 World Championships and 1984 Olympics, Bukantz was
directoire technique. Chaba Pallaghy, chair of the Referees Commission
of
the IFF (COMARB FIE from 1992 to 1996), commented: “Dr. Bukantz’ acceptance
and recognition, when fencing was totally dominated by Europeans
at an elevated level, by inviting him to referee at the most important
event, the Olympic Games, is extraordinary in itself.”
Bukantz was also a member of the U.S. Olympic Fencing Team in 1948,
1952, 1956, and 1960. His U.S. Foil team finished fourth in 1948
and 1956.
He was U.S. National Foil Champion in 1949, 1952, 1953, and 1957.
In the
years 1949 to 1962, his team was U.S. National Champion nine times. |
