A Proud “PAPI”

© rumbum.com, Tobias Franoszek

If you want to see Coach Robert laugh, try to call him the family patriarch. “I let them tell me what to do!  Their degrees are 30 years newer than mine!” he says of his sons, Alan and Jonathan Strauss of BoardUp Miami.  And if you want to see him cry, just ask him how proud he is of them. 

Coach Robert Strauss, celebrating his 25th year of SwimGym, a school he created dedicated to teaching kids physical fitness through aquatic sports (located next to BoardUp Miami’s stretch of beach on Virginia Key), has been both coach and employer to his sons.  But during BoardUp, he’s on the other side of the table: directing volunteers, darting to the office bungalow, placing buoys, answering questions at registration, answering phones, and answering his chirping BlackBerry.  He’s easy to spot with a characteristic bandana on his head, a permanent tan, black shades, a full, yet tidy, beard graying at the chin… and he never stops moving.

Inside the office bungalow adjacent to his SwimGym pool, he kept his sporty black shades on.  As he spoke of his two sons, and how as children they called him “Papi”, tears glimmered behind them.  “You’re making me think of so many nice things,” he said, his voice becoming higher while stifling the salty drops.  Through a smattering of tears he narrated how “Little Alan” encouraged his high school water polo team to play on after the death of a teammate, and how he made a memorial to the friend by placing his hat and number on an empty chair poolside.  He fondly described the story behind Jonathan’s Old Testament-inspired name, and spoke of how the boys respect their father and revere their mother to the ends of the earth.  

Though the raconteur, with a heart as big as his SwimGym pool, loves recounting anecdotes about his sons’ accomplishments – and even a few brief lapses in judgment – Coach Robert has his own remarkable past.  Before the ripe age of 10, the “nice Jewish boy from Mexico City” joined the Mexican National Swim Team.  At 20, he swam for the University of Miami on a scholarship and competed in the ’72 Munich Olympics (between a bevy of other international competitions such as the World University Games in ’70 and ’73, and the World Maccabi Games ‘69 and ‘73).  At 23, he embarked with his wife, Jennie, on their 34-year honeymoon (and counting), and by 30 had two sons and was actively pursuing his lifelong dream of teaching physical fitness.

Now 56, Coach Robert – whom his sons now call “Dad” or, more work-appropriately, “Robert” – has taught well over 30,000 people how to swim.  He takes his profession, which he considers his responsibility, extremely seriously.  “It’s such an honor that a parent would allow me to teach the jewels of the family,” he expressed.  With a pool for his classroom and his family close at hand – even closer in heart – Coach Robert radiates vivacity and happiness.  “I’ve had the best life,” he says, pausing for a breath, “and the nicest kids. I’m so blessed.”