Former YMCA Aquatic Director Carolyn Kent was a tireless champion for teaching water safety and expanding access to swimming for all.
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Carolyn Kent, a beloved member of the YMCA family. Carolyn served in the YMCA movement for 30 years as Aquatic Director at the McGaw YMCA (then the Evanston YMCA), followed by the Northbrook YMCA, teaching much of the Northshore area how to swim.
Carolyn began her Y journey in 1960 as a volunteer at the Evanston Y. A physical education teacher and former state champion swimmer, she brought her skill, passion, and heart to the pool deck. In a 2010 video interview, she reflected on how her love of swimming led her to the McGaw Y, where she met Zenol Moore, Director of Girls and Women. Seeing the need to increase opportunities for women and girls, Zenol invited Carolyn to teach evening swim classes for women, a volunteer role that sparked a lifelong commitment.
In 1967, Carolyn launched a swim program for 6- and 7-year-olds, opening the door for younger children who previously had to wait until age eight to learn to swim. A decade later, when national YMCA guidelines allowed co-ed classes, women and girls gained more pool time, and Carolyn stepped into the Aquatic Director role. With the support of Zenol and other staff, she expanded access to lifesaving water safety skills for young children, girls, and intergenerational families.
Carolyn recruited and trained volunteers to become swim instructors, including moms of swim participants and Northwestern students, welcomed fathers and grandparents into parent-child classes, and introduced a free, community “Learn to Swim” program. She trained camp counselors in the pool and in the lake at Camp Echo, fostering both confidence in the water and a love of nature. She even taught her own grandchildren to swim at the Y.
Watch Carolyn talk about her time at the YMCA in Evanston:
To Carolyn’s family, friends, and all who knew her, we offer our heartfelt condolences. We are grateful to have shared in her extraordinary Y journey. Carolyn had a sincere love for teaching and left a lasting mark on the Y community. She truly lived the YMCA mission, inspiring generations to nurture a healthy spirit, mind, and body.
A memorial service celebrating Carolyn’s life was held in Ireland, with a private family burial to follow in Skokie. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Carolyn’s memory to the “Kristin Kent Memorial Trail” at McGaw YMCA Camp Echo. Please indicate this designation in the comment box when making your contribution.
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With gratitude and remembrance,
McGaw YMCA