In a heartwarming ceremony, a bench and plaque dedication was held June 23 at the Northampton Municipal Pool.

The event honored deceased former pool staff who worked there as youth. Seven former pool workers’ names are commemorated on a plaque at the pool. The plaque can hold up to 40 more names.

Family members of the honored seven were present at the dedication. The families were given a bouquet of roses by Monica Hodges, event coordinator and former lifeguard.

Northampton Borough Manager Leroy Brobst, who also worked at the pool for many years, served as the master of ceremonies.

Several attendees shared stories of pool memories when they served as lifeguards, basket house attendants and cashiers at the popular municipal pool.

Alan Newhard, a former lifeguard, talked about the five items inscribed on the dedicated bench - WALK! 4 Squares! Swim for Cancer! Thunder? ALL OUT!

Newhard and others shared they told running kids to walk “probably 9,000 times over the summer.”

Another attendee chimed in, saying, “All out” was an enjoyable shout as it was time to close the pool for the day. One other former lifeguard said they occasionally made the “All out” call about 10 minutes early to give themselves a head start.

All present reported they enjoyed their time working at the pool.

“Thunder?” was said to be a popular call because after several days of hot, humid weather and a crowded pool, an advancing thunderstorm meant the staff would get a break if the pool closed early.

Often, staff members would play Four Squares on the concrete square blocks around the pool when pool attendance was low to help keep cool and pass the time.

The pool reportedly was a host for American Cancer Society’s Swim for Cancer for the Northampton County unit for a number of years. Former pool staff reminisced about their successful efforts when they raised the highest amount of dollars and the fun they had raising money for the cancer society.

Dave Schloffer, Steve Steffie, Jon Abelovsky, Edgar A. Brobst Jr., Pete Sinkowski, Karen Frey Young and Howard Kutzler are the former workers memorialized on the bench. They are honored publicly at a place that provided them positive formative experiences, fun and friendship decades ago during their youth.

The pool staff alumni present at the event remain connected because of their experiences at the pool, they added.

Shared connections forged at a young age can continue throughout one’s life, as evidences by these pool staff alumni.