Very sad news to report. Dr. Ladislav “Lad” Pataki — beloved to masters throwers and famed as an East Bloc sports chemist who defected to the United States in 1985 — is battling brain cancer. His illness was confirmed yesterday by his close friend Ed Burke, the three-time Olympic hammer thrower who helped engineer Lad’s escape (with wife and daughter) from Czechoslovakia at a time when “traitors” were shot. Ed writes: “I can assure you that he would like to receive cards from well wishers. . . . Those who know him personally would be welcome visitors. . . . He can be reached at 4858 Poston Drive, San Jose, CA 95136.”

Lad turned 60 on June 20, 2006, but that same day announced he was quitting masters track after being treated poorly by records officials and others — after winning world masters championships in 1997, 1999 and 2001 and setting numerous records. He competed at USATF masters nationals as recently as the Boston indoor meet in 2004. (He was denied a world age-group record from Brisbane 2001 world masters, he says, because the field sloped uphill!)
In 2003, at age 57, Lad was a member of the West Valley College track team, and he still ranks among the top throwers in the history of that San Francisco Bay Area junior college. Np doubt he acted as a coach as well. He mentored many masters throwers.
In June 2005, Lad was named director of research and development at Ameritech International Corp. of Phoenix, Arizona, which put out a press release noting: “Dr. Pataki developed both the PowerLean and NutrLife health and wellness lines of products recently purchased by Ameritech.”
In October 2005, Lad joined other elite throwers in paying their respects upon the passing of his neighbor and friend Larry Kennedy, a fomer national-class thrower.
Lad wrote:

Larry is in my thoughts.
He is in the better place.
I light the symbol of his spirit under the picture of his friends.

Lad was himself a light of truth and honesty during the BALCO scandal. Lad knew Victor Conte, mastermind of the doping lab. Lad considered Conte a fraud — and said so publicly
“He just knows the big words,” Pataki said. “You have an actor that speaks in a knowledgeable way about something. Conte acts like a scientist. It’s a great act.” Pataki said he was angry when they parted ways in 1988. He’s not angry anymore. “I was laughing about how good it was that I am not with him, that I was not dragged into it.”
I’m not a doctor, and I don’t know all the details of Lad’s illness. But his condition is considered grim by his friends. Still, he’s a courageous fighter — as depicted in his own harrowing description of his defection from the Evil Empire (5,500 words you won’t soon forget).
In April 2006, word emerged that Olympic decathlon great Bob Mathias was ill. He lived another five months.
Friends and fans took advantage of that time to share their feelings with and about Bob, and I hope they do the same with Lad. Feel free to post a comment here, or send a note to the San Jose address given above.
He’s one of our greats. He would appreciate your prayerful support.
Photo added on Feb 5:
Here’s a rare shot of Lad Pataki in his athletic prime, taken by masters jumper and commenter (see below) Milan Jamrich in 1968 at Nove Zamky, Czechoslovakia. (Lad would have been about 22, and don’t those droopy socks just melt your heart?)