LINDEN, California, May 1. ERVIN Zador, made famous during a bloody confrontation during a water polo match between Hungary and the Soviet Union during the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne in what became known as the Blood in the Water match, passed away on Saturday in California.
After helping Hungary through the 1956 Olympics, which included his squad posting a 2-1 victory in the gold medal match with him on the sideline due to the massive gash opened under his right eye during the emotional match with the Soviet Union. The backstory to the confrontation is that earlier in the year, the Soviet Union had invaded Hungary. The match would actually be called off with a minute to go due to confrontations in the stands.
Zador's life would later be dramatized in the film Freedom's Fury. The film features the Hungarian Revolution from that year, and also centers on the water polo match with Zador as the focal point.
Zador later relocated to California, and founded Ripon Aquatics. The facility they train in has also been named the Ervin Zador Aquatics Center.
Ripon Aquatics has a great slideshow of memories with their founder.
Full text of Modesto Bee obituary.