Michael
Kennedy
Suburban
Aquatic League Chairman from the ‘70’s
On Thursday, November 3rd, 2005, a founding father of the Suburban Aquatic League, Michael “Mike” Kennedy died at Presbyterian Hospital. Mike was a giant in the League. Many of the rules and customary manners that govern SAL were Mike’s ideas. He was a brilliant and clear thinker, able to communicate his concepts to others.
Mike’s no-nonsense attitude spiced
with a great sense of humor and ready wit made for meaningful League meetings
that were also great entertainment.
Mike’s quick mind could concoct a solution to seemingly impossible
dilemmas, and many thought that he had the USS handbook committed to memory. He probably did.
Mike enjoyed kids, swimming, and
people. He was always on the side of
fair competition for all in the sport and the League. As chairman, his guidance always reflected that. Six year-olds were as important as high
school All-Americans. No event was trivial.
SAL has a championship for EVERY athlete regardless of ability. Diving survived. SAL has a custom of always being inclusive, and Mike set that
tone.
The early years of the SAL were
sometimes tumultuous, and many well-meaning but lesser persons would have given
up and let others take the heat, but Mike Kennedy stuck to jobs till they were
satisfactorily completed.
I’m the only active member of SAL
from the very beginning (1968) and I was a very young, inexperienced coach when
I met Mike. He is a major reason why I
became a better coach and person and why I grew to love being around the League
“just because.” And there are many men
and women from that time who would say the same about Mike. His witty wisdom affected thousands of aquatic-minded
persons through the people who had direct contact with him and passed on
something from Mike.
Mike and his wife, Kay, opened their
house to SAL meetings. Many times the
officers of the League sat around the Kennedy dining room table to hammer out
the directions the League would take. We
drank Kennedy beer, coffee, and soda and munched on their chips and
pretzels. The meetings were social
events but Mike made sure that we got the job done.
Problems at a meet on a
Saturday? Mike was never too busy to
explain the nuances of a situation. He
knew the USS rules and just how to apply them.
He knew the League rules, too, and fearlessly and fairly applied them as
necessary. Mike was supremely confident
without being egotistical. He was a
great teacher, but would probably deny it.
Chairman Kennedy taught by example.
I remember many meetings where Mike sat smiling as we argued and debated
issues. He knew what to do, but he wanted us to find the solution
ourselves. It is so sad that his
exemplary time with us is over.
Fortunately, there are swimmers and divers today, decades after he
chaired the League, who benefit and pass on Mike’s ways.
Those of us who knew him personally
are a lucky lot indeed, but Mike will be sorely missed, even by people who did
not know him.
Mark McElwee, SAL Boys Registrar