Bay of Plenty Swimming Life Member Norm Jeffs passes away

It is with great sadness that Swimming New Zealand announces that Norm Jeffs passed away on Wednesday.

Bronwen Radford, President of Bay of Plenty Swimming, remembers Norm Jeffs:

On Wednesday 9th October 2013, Norm Jeffs passed away. 

We will never forget how Norm has helped and guided the sport of swimming over the years, generously sharing his time and experience. His advice was always right on the money and I remember after one particular long conversation saying, “Norm, I don’t want to waste your whole day with this” to which he smiled and said, “Listen, working together is always worth the time, it makes us stronger as a group.” That kind of wisdom characterizes the great man we had the privilege to work with and call our friend.   

Norm’s involvement in the sport of swimming spans over four decades and has never wavered. He was the type that was more concerned about doing the right thing than he was about doing the easy thing. His sense of values was clear and unflinching.  

Norm had been involved in every facet of swimming from a Club level through to Regional in both administrative and pool deck official roles.   

His passion for swimming inspired hundreds of children throughout the years and he was instrumental in his own daughter Toni becoming one of our decorated Olympic (1992) and Commonwealth Games  1990, 1994, 1998 (Bronze medallist) and 2002 (Bronze medallist) swimmers.  Norm was her primary coach in her earlier years.  It was only recently that he removed himself from pool deck and coaching our future stars. 

Norm was a Life Member of Swimming Bay of Plenty, Recipient of a SNZ Service Award (2002), SNZ Honours (2010) and a recipient of the prestigious SNZ Jackie Clarke Award 2009. 

Norm was Swimming Bay of Plenty’s rock - our financial guru and a current valuable member of our Board. 

Norm will be sorely missed – both by his family and by so many friends, like Swimming Bay of Plenty, whom he helped and inspired.  His love for his wife, children and grandchildren was made obvious in the way he spoke of them.   But as he rests from his life’s long labour, this great husband, father, grandfather and friend should know that his lifetime of dedication and self-sacrifice serve as a monument of the exemplary man he was.  His humility, integrity and hard work continue to inspire those who knew him. The world is most definitely a better place because of Norm Jeffs.