Swimming Official Vicky Wolsfelt Passes

It is with great sadness we announce the sudden passing of a beloved fellow swimming official, Vicky Wolsfelt.  Vicky succumbed to complications from treatment for a blood clot on Tuesday, June 21, 2011. 

Everyone involved with swimming in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and USA Swimming has had the pleasure of volunteering with Vicky and her husband, Gerald.  Together, they began officiating more than 30 years ago, always working side by side.  Vicky worked tirelessly attracting new officials and volunteer help for swim meets at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, where their sons Russell and Peter swam for the school’s Head Coach Gregg Troy.  When Russell garnered a spot on the Auburn Univ. swim team, Vicky devoted more of her time to helping the volunteer efforts for that program.  Their high regard and appreciation for Coach Troy led them back to the University of Florida, the very place where they met many years before as college students.  Once again, Vicky was instrumental recruiting, training and organizing officials and volunteer help for swim meets and other activities at the Gator Swim Club.  Vicky’s devotion to the sport of swimming and youth sports made her a frequent volunteer on the pool decks at swim meets throughout Florida and Georgia, where she was thrilled to watch some of her grandchildren recently take up the sport that had been so much of a focus of her charitable activities.

Vicky and Gerald’s dedication to swim officiating made them regulars at USA Swimming’s Olympic Trials competition and other high-level national swim meets, where their knowledge and advice were constantly in demand and indispensable to the new generation of officials in attendance.  Vicky never wavered from helping and guiding, and made her one of the best sources for officiating guidance.

Vicky’s commitment to swimming was equally active off the pool deck.  She regularly helped with organizing and registering participants at the annual US Aquatic Sports convention, including providing information on local touring spots and restaurants.  Vicky was a donor and supporter of USA Swimming Foundation’s Golden Goggles Awards, and during one memorable year brought family members to fill an entire table at the prestigious event.

Vicky is survived by her devoted husband Gerald; four children Victoria (Tory), Marcy, Russell, and Peter, and 10 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 4pm on Saturday, June 25^that All Saints Episcopal Church in Thomasville, Georgia. Condolences can be sent to P. O Box 1195, Thomasville, GA 31799