By SHELBY REDONDO
Los Alamos

Denise McCoy is retiring on March 20 after 18 plus years as the Aquatic Center Facilities Manager, the longest serving manager of the center! This letter is to celebrate the exceptional service she has offered our community.

Under her leadership she has handled a variety of problems including the decision when to reopen the pool during COVID while faced with lifeguard shortages and mechanical breakdowns. She was instrumental in addressing major facility projects. She supported and provided input on the design of the new Leisure Lagoon, making a safe and fun facility for children. Because of her, the community now has an appropriate place to teach young children how to swim.

Denise made the high-altitude Olympic size pool a popular annual training event for a Japanese swim team. Under her supervision she directed her assistant, Dacotah Hofer, to teach the lessons that helped provide local private pools with newly trained lifeguards. She coordinated monthly meetings with the Aquatic Center Advisory Subcommittee providing detailed reports concerning programing, attendance and expenditures. She has worked tirelessly to accommodate the needs of all the swim teams. She also expanded classes for those who use the therapy pool. She also facilitated the use of the pool to Scouts for kayaking practice. The schools have benefited by including swimming as part of their PE curriculum for freshmen as well as swim lessons for all fourth graders in the county.

These are just a few of the multitude of services Denise provided for our community. As a very approachable pool manager she has demonstrated flexibility in resolving issues. She leaves us with a gem of a facility. We lose a gem of an administrator. We wish her the best in her retirement.