Lawrenceville Celebrates Dedication of Lee Pool

As Big Red water polo players and swim team members splashed in the background, Lawrenceville alumnus Bobby Lee ’93 celebrated the official dedication of Lawrenceville’s Lee Pool at Tsai Field House on April 22. Lee was joined by his family, Head of School Steve Murray, Board of Trustees President Jon Weiss ‘75, and members of the School community at the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony.

In remarks at the event, Murray noted that while the pool is a premier athletic facility, with features such as a moveable floor, anti-wave water flow system, and backstroke start ledges that positively impact performance, the pool is a true community resource.

“The vision for this facility is one of community,” Murray said. “It was not about creating something solely for athletes.”

In addition to using the facility for classes, local first responder training, and Harkness travel scuba certifications, Murray cited the example of water polo players and swim team members who observed that a surprising number of community members did not know how to swim. Having received water safety certification, these students created a Learn to Swim program that has trained more than 70 swimmers in the last two years - including current Lawrenceville students, faculty children, and children with a local community-based organization. 

This example, Murray said, “reinforces the guiding vision for this space - the idea of community building.”

Weiss, who said he swam for Lawrenceville in his Fourth Form year, thanked Lee for his gift.

“The vision for the field house was rooted in Lawrenceville’s mission for inspiring the best in each to seek the best for all,” Weiss said. “The result is the building you see around you - with spaces for students to gather, take meals together, play, compete, and support the best efforts of their classmates.”

Recalling his experience as a member of the swim team while a student at Lawrenceville, Lee said, “I was on the swim team not because I was the fastest swimmer, but because Lawrenceville encouraged all the students to do athletics as a critical part of our student life here on campus.”

“I’m honored to have the opportunity and privilege to give back to the school,” Lee said. “Success in life does not come easy, it takes equal parts vision and hard work, and luck as well. Even though this is the Lee Pool dedication, I feel like I'm back on campus to honor and thank the great people from the Lawrenceville community, past and present, who helped shape who I am today.”

For more information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.