James Mckee

James A. McKee
Educator, Coach, All American

Naugatuck, CT James A. McKee beloved swim coach, passed away peacefully on November 18, 2024, after a short illness.

Jim was born in Waterbury on December 17, 1947, the son of the late John and Helen (Kowgan) McKee. He is survived by his devoted wife of 52 years, Suzanne (Leone), son Mark (Jamie), grandchildren Caleb and Eliza of Southbury, brother “Chip” (Peggy) of Watertown and sister Susie of Alabama. He was predeceased by his son, Michael and brother Robert. Jim enjoyed spending time with his family. He was excited about Caleb’s swimming and football and Eliza’s enthusiasm for horseback riding and playing the saxophone.

Jim grew up in the Bucks Hill section of Waterbury and graduated from Crosby High School where he was a member of the football and track teams and co-captain of the swim team. Jim went on to graduate from Southern Connecticut State University where he was co-captain of the swim team and earned College Division All- America Honors on three relay teams and individually in the100 yard freestyle. He set five school records at Southern.

After graduation, Jim became a teacher and later was a teaching vice-principal in the Waterbury School System, where he worked for 33 years. He also tutored and taught Adult ESL but swimming was his passion. Jim worked at the Watertown Parks and Recreation and became the Assistant Coach of the Watertown High School boys swim team. He coached the Naugatuck age group swim club.

In 1977, Jim became the head coach of the Naugatuck High School boys swim team where he led the team to 16 NVL championships and one state title. In 1992 Coach McKee was recognized by the Connecticut Interscholastic Coaches Association as Boys “Coach of the Year”. Under his tenure, the boys swim teams were twice runners-ups in Class LL, state champions in Class L, and were runners-up in the state open.

He was head coach of the Naugatuck High School girls swim team for 36 years. His girls won 8 NVL championships.

The Connecticut High School Coaches Association recognized him as Outstanding Coach of Boys Swimming in 1992 and again in 1997 for girls swimming. In 2011 Jim received the Bruce Hutchinson Award, named in honor of Jim’s coach at Southern, for his achievements in swimming.

In 2018, he was elected to the Naugatuck Hall of Fame for Excellence in Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving.

The Olympian Club of Waterbury honored him as “Coach of the Year”. He received special recognition from the Honorable Christopher Murphy and was the recipient of two citations from the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut.

During the summer, Jim was the head swimming coach at Copper Valley Swim & Tennis Club in Cheshire. In subsequent years, he was pool director and swim coach at The Farms Country Club.

He loved motivating and inspiring young swimmers and helping them to achieve their full potential. He produced a total of 75 All State swimmers, with 64 boys and 11 girls, and his boys set 23 state records along with 52 individual state champions. Nine of his boys were awarded All-America honors. He coached the 2002 national champion diver. Two other boys earned honorable mention All-America honors.

Throughout his life, Jim was a fiercely competitive athlete participating in major swimming and running events. He ran 27 marathons including Boston, Santa Monica and Montreal. His team came in first in the Catamount Triathlon Relay and first in the Cheshire Chase Triathlon. He participated three times in the Lake Waramaug Ultra Marathon, finishing the 50-mile event of running and walking.

He was a 10-time finisher in the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim (4.4 miles in open water) coming in first eight times in the master’s division. In 2008, at the age of 58, he finished 29th with a time of 1:46:55, out of 599 finishers. He participated in “Swim Across the Sound” three times.

Jim led a rich and full life. He was quick to laugh, liked a good joke and could tell a good story. He was a huge fan of the Boston Red Sox and played on several local softball teams. Somehow, he found time to become a master bridge player and to build and fly all kinds of model airplanes. He enjoyed ocean cruises and loved long Sunday afternoon drives with Suzanne in their silver Corvette.

Jim will be missed by everyone who had the good fortune to know him.

The family would like to thank the staff and personnel at River Glen Health Care Center for the compassionate care they gave Jim during his final days.

Friends and relatives are welcome to gather Monday, December 16, 2024 from 4:00 to 7:00pm at the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at 10:00 AM at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church Street, Naugatuck. Everyone attending Mass is kindly asked to please meet directly at church. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.