“What does the Westfield ‘Y’ mean to me and our family? Should I start with the fact that I learned to swim there? Maybe I should mention that during the Summer of 1963 before starting college, I had my first job as a counselor in the day camp program. We met the day campers at the ‘Y’ early in the morning, took a bus to the Watchung Reservation and then returned mid-afternoon for aquatic activities. Five years ago my wife and I learned to play pickle ball when the ‘Y’ started its program and met many wonderful people who will be life long friends. Our children learned to swim at the ‘Y’ and were on the ‘Y’ swim team. In fact, one daughter was part of a young medley relay team that was on the record boards for years. Two of our grandchildren attended the ‘Y’ nursery school, and their great grandfather (my father) lived at the ‘Y’ when he first moved to Westfield in 1929.

Many thanks ‘Y’ and Happy Anniversary.”