JOSEPH MURRAY

2017 INDUCTION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AQUATIC HALL OF FAME

              Joe has been involved in various aspects of aquatics from competitive swimming to lifeguard to coach of both LaSalle Academy and Classical High School.  He began his swimming career at the Providence YMCA and continued swimming at the Grist Mill pool.  Joe attended LaSalle Academy and during his senior year helped his team become one of the top teams in New England Interscholastic swimming.

            Joe’s interest in swimming and aquatics led him to lifeguarding.  He worked many years at the Seekonk Swim and Tennis Club and once was awarded with a commendation for saving a young girl from drowning. After many years of work, lifeguarding and managing at the Viking Hotel in Newport, Joe decided to complete his college degree and became a health and physical education teacher.  Throughout his college journey, Joe continued to lifeguard and began working at the Ocean Tides School.  After graduating from the University of Rhode Island in 1992 with a degree in physical education, Joe began a career at the Pleasant Valley Elementary School teaching and coaching swimming.  On a daily basis Joe works with disabled students both in the gymnasium and in the swimming pool.  In addition, Joe and former inductee, Bob Bouchard, teach Water Safety and Lifeguarding courses to those aspiring lifeguards.  Joe is an American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Training Instructor and has been credited with training many of our current lifeguards working our public and private beaches and pools.  Joe is an appointed member of the city of Providence’s Mayor’s Swim Commission. He helps create and institute policies for the current Learn to Swim Programs in our capitol city.  Joe takes great pride in the teaching and coaching of aquatics.  His dedication to the challenged and disabled to students is exemplary. 

            In addition to Joe’s extensive involvement in Water Safety, he has coached at both LaSalle Academy and Classical High School.  He has been coaching at Classical for 20 years and during his tenure has led several teams to Division Titles.  Many of his swimmers have earned All Division Titles, All State Titles, and one recipient earned RI Interscholastic League Female Swimmer of the Year. 

            Joe, his wife, Nicole, and their three children live in North Smithfield.