You know, it has been fifty years since Uncle Pete gave his last swimming lessons in Saltaire.
Fifty to sixty-one years ago he was coaching, inspiring, scaring and teaching little kids in a bay front full of seaweed, stinging jelly fish, big waves and a BIG STICK. Maybe the same way he used to coach, inspire, scare and condition American aviators to climb into airplanes to be shot at to win the Good War.
Anyone from those Uncle Pete swimming lessons fifty or sixty years ago remembers them like yesterday. Yesterday.
So I am sure Uncle Pete would be proud today. If one thing he ever wanted us to know in those lessons it was :
YOU CAN DO IT.
THREE UNCLE PETE SWIMMING CLASS ALUMNI FROM FIFTY OR MORE YEARS AGO DONE HIM PROUD AT THE MAGGIE FISCHER CROSSBAY SWIM THIS YEAR:
TOM VAUTIER
DANNY WEINLANDT
DIANE MCMANUS
see the results here: http://greatsouthbayswim.com/2014/2014%20Maggie%20Fischer%20Swim%20Overall%20Results.htm
ALL REMARKABLE SWIMMERS AT THEIR AGE, OR ANY AGE.
At the Labor Day awards, 1962, (1963?)Danny was awarded the CUP as the best of the senior boys.
I remember Kuracheck saying when Danny came up to receive his award "We've all watched him grow up," as he handed the cup to Danny. I am sure Uncle Pete could have imagined Danny swimming across the Bay 50 years thereafter.
Congratulations Danny,
Diane McManus, now that is another story.
Congratulations, Diane
Diane McManus, In her own Write:
"Thanks much! I both adored and feared Uncle Pete!
I think he'd be very surprised in my case, b/c I was one of those kids whom he had to practically drag into deep water. If you'd told me back then that I'd be swimming across the bay, I'd have wondered what you were smoking."
Diane.....well...... not so much.
In fact, I can think of nothing in common between Danny and Diane except that:
1. They both swam all the way across the bay while well into their sixties and
2. More than fifty years ago Uncle Pete helped teach them to swim.
Kuracheck could coach 'em all.
And Vautier too.
Congratulations, Tom
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| Tom Vautier 2009 |
Somewhere, Coach Kuracheck is smiling.
Congratulations, Pete.
3 comments:
Jim -
You obviously neglected to mention Uncle Pete's two most glaring aquatic failures - Meegan Keegan and Beaver
Diane McManus
Thanks for the writ-up, Jim, and congrats, fellow swimmers! Yes, Dan was chosen first... I finally progressed late in the game to NOT being chosen last. :) Let's just say, athletic ability and I had a somewhat uneasy relationship. However, I should note that I once received one of those little cups for "most improved swimmer" in my age group and "most diligent"--so at least people thought I was trying hard. Or was very trying. Or something.
I remember watching some test Uncle Pete was giving an advanced group and it looked very difficult. They were to swim from that dock west of the ferry dock to the swimming dock and the more advanced group also had to add six laps. Who'd have thought--myself included--that I'd swim a bunch of times that distance.
I also recall a "West Island Swim Club" in which my cousin had earned membership by actually swimming to West Island. I thought at the time, "How can ANYONE swim THAT far?"
Oh, and speaking of cousins, I do need to give a shout-out to my cousin and kayak escort (pictured with me), Pete Reilly, great grandson of THE Charles B. McManus, my grandpa, who bought 108 Marine Walk way back when it was only a couple thousand dollars. Pete was a wonderful escort, encouraging, feeding, making me laugh--and this after having been awakened in the middle of the night due to an illness in the family. He was able to set aside his own weariness and be a steady source of support. Can't say enough good about him!
It was nice to read the lengthy write up about Uncle Pete from a few years ago and this most recent reference to his swim lessons. Yes, I was one of Uncle Pete's student victims in my youth. I never wanted to learn to swim or to get in the bay. Uncle Pete always pushed us off the swim lesson dock no matter how much we protested. Cold water, seaweek, jellies..........in we went regardless. He always carried the long bamboo pole which I recall grabbing for on many occasion. If only he could see me now....hopefully I have done him proud in the water. Coincidentally, Danny Weinlandt, named in the same article was one of my favorite counselors who frequently rewarded me with pink bellies in camp. I probably deserved every one of them. I don't recall Diane McManus specifically but the last name takes me back to my early roots in Saltaire. This blog site is an excellent reminder and refresher of great memories and history that we all share. Thanks!! Tom Vautier
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