Aquatic Center Dedicated

Today Episcopal dedicated the school’s new aquatic center in memory of Elizabeth (Beppy) Simpson Walton ’71. Beppy’s family, friends and Episcopal community members attended, including Beppy’s siblings Bill ’70, Missy ’74, Lon ’77, and Raymur ’85. The Rev. Adam Greene welcomed the crowd of more than 100 guests and invited Bill Walton ’70 to speak on behalf of the family. Bill shared Beppy’s considerable swimming achievements throughout her many years of swimming and talked about her as a sister who was hardworking, funny, honest and loyal, and a person who lived her life with great dignity. He also reflected on the summers of swimming at the Florida Yacht Club in the early 1960s and the bonds of friendship created there. Many of Beppy’s teammates from those years attended the dedication, as well as classmates, friends, and swimmers whom Beppy had coached.

Tom Tygart, a local attorney who coached the Florida Yacht Club swim team when Beppy started swimming, said she was “a tiny, freckle-faced redhead who was a fierce competitor. Coaches like to say ‘leave it all in the pool,’ and Beppy did that for every race.”

Bill Walton also talked about the upgrades to the facility. Episcopal’s new Elizabeth Simpson Walton ‘71 Aquatic Center features a pool with boys and girls locker and changing rooms, an elevated spectator observation deck, coaches’ offices, restrooms and pool deck showers. The complex also includes a new pump house and pool system that will allow the pool to be heated and cooled, providing a single-temperature pool all year round for ESJ and AmberJax swimmers. The pool deck has been enlarged, creating a better experience for visiting teams during meets. Access to the new concessions stand is also part of the facility’s redesign.