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04/16/2015 12:01 AMPatrick Callahan has always been around the water. Patrick grew up in Uniondale, New York and so the Long Island Sound is like a second home—a place he’s enjoyed spending time at throughout his life. Patrick’s also spent plenty of time at the Valley-Shore YMCA in Westbrook and has equally enjoyed the 20 years in which he’s been part of that organization. Now after having served on the Y’s Board of Directors, contributing toward its initiative for a new swimming pool, along with coaching the Y Masters swim program for 12-plus years and the Marlins’ squad for six, Patrick officially retired from Valley-Shore on April 1.
“The Valley-Shore YMCA was one of the best places that I’ve been a part of and I’m going to miss the sense of a community involvement,” says Patrick, an Essex resident. “It’s tough to stop doing something you love to do. I enjoyed coaching the swimmers and I’ll miss that. I’ll miss the friendships and relationships with the parents, as well. Getting to know different families was an enjoyable experience.”
Patrick, 65, taught himself how to swim as a youngster and did his first competition in the 4th grade. Patrick then swam at Uniondale High School, after which he attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, where he also competed before graduating in 1971. Two years later, Patrick joined his alma mater as a swim coach.
“I coached at Wesleyan from 1973 to 1988 and it was a different time back then,” says Patrick, who also served on the NCAA Swimming Rules Committee for five years. “Most coaches at the Division III level coach two, sometimes three seasons. At the time that I arrived, Wesleyan just went coed. I was additionally hired to coach the men’s team after the coach I swam for died after a sudden heart attack. Instead of one year, I wound up staying for 15. The interest grew and expectations grew. I was assisting with crew and later took over women’s crew. I coached crew fall and spring and swimming in winter.”
Patrick coached not only the men’s swimming program at Wesleyan, but also led the women’s swim team and women’s crew. In fact, Patrick guided the 1978 crew squad to the New England championship. Toward the end of his tenure at the university, he received the Coach of the Year Award from the New England Coaches Association for swimming. Patrick was happy to help talented athletes achieve their potential even after their college careers concluded.
“Amy Baltzell of Wesleyan made the 1992 Olympic team as a spare on the crew team and was a member of 1995 A3 all-women’s World Cup sailing team,” says Patrick. “She’s now a professor at BU [Boston University]. Having people use their passion and break expectations is something I have enjoyed.”
With the Valley-Shore YMCA, Patrick used his leadership skills to aid swimmers from various age groups in the pool—from the Marlins’ 8-and-under club all the way to the Seniors’ program. He especially enjoyed the first few months of the year, when the championship season rolled around.
“We get a solid number of kids all from our service area—Essex, [Old] Saybrook, East Haddam, Old Lyme, Westbrook. The best thing about coaching swimming is getting a large group of people doing the same activity. It’s really highlighted when you take the team to a championship meet,” says Patrick, who works at Coldwell Banker in Essex. “It’s a really intense experience to have learning and growth for the swimmers for both boys and girls swim in same facility interacting with each other in different age groups. Having the 8-and-under kids perform well and go beyond their expectations is good for them. Through age 14, the numbers include a really solid group of swimmers and they’re the best kept secrets on the shoreline.”
One of Patrick’s standout athletes happens to be the daughter of Jean Lee, the person for whom the Lee Family Pool at the Y is named.
“True competitive swimmers, like Jessica Lee from Old Lyme, qualified for the Y National Championships three years in a row,” Patrick says. “To have someone be able to qualify for national competitions is what I’ve enjoyed.”
Patrick also got to coach his daughters, Caitlin and Dana, at the YMCA—an experience he was happy to be a part of.
“Not many people can say they were able to coach their own daughter,” says Patrick, who’s married to Ann Goodwin. “I had the privilege of that.”
In his final season with Valley-Shore, Patrick produced one more athlete who smashed records with the Marlins.
“One of the recent highlights was the performance this year of Kayla Mendonca, a 12-year-old swimmer who seemed to break a team record every time she swam,” he says. “She qualified for the Zone Championship meet where, in the 11-and-12 age group, she was eighth in the 500 free, 10th in 200 IM, and 11th in 100 fly.”
Madison resident John Cropp, the current President of the Marlins’ parent group, details how Patrick shaped the program.
“Pat’s focus was having kids excel and compete at a high level. The end goal was Pat really wanted to see the kids grow and learn and become independent by swimming or focused on another area,” says Cropp, who’s been the president for four years. “Pat gave the kids a passion to grow and progress at an elite level. He’s been supportive and enjoyable to work with.”
Marlins’ swimmers are now working with new coach Ted Weeks and Patrick feels the future of swimming at Valley-Shore is in good hands with his successor.
“Ted Weeks on board takes over a healthy program. [Executive Director/CEO] Chris Pallato has been very supportive of the program. We’ve been very involved over the last six years,” Patrick says. “With the great parents’ group, we donated a new record board, new lane lines, picked up some other small equipment, and purchased a TRX [training] system made available to general public.”
Although Patrick’s time with Valley-Shore YMCA swimming has come to a close, he plans on staying close to the water and may pick up another of his favorite hobbies.
“Where I live, I’m about three-quarters of a mile away from the Connecticut River. I used to do a lot of kayaking and may be able to with some free time,” says Patrick. “I also run on a recreational basis, enjoy American musical theatre, and my family and I like to travel and enjoy the water. It was a great opportunity to coach there for the last 10 or so years. The Y is a tremendous resource.”