“I dream of a day where there are no reports of a child drowning.”
Marvin A. Thorpe, Sr. developed a love for swimming while growing up in the segregated community of Lynchburg, Virginia in the 1930’s and 1940’s. He began teaching other students how to swim as early as the age of nine years old. By the time Marvin A. Thorpe, Sr. was 20 years old, he had successfully earned two Red Cross Certifications: Life Guard and Water Safety Instructor. Thorpe, Sr. was a highly decorated athlete in high school and college. He received honors as the first athlete in the history of Dunbar High School (Lynchburg, Virginia) to win a first-place medal in any V.I.A.L. Track and Field competition. Thorpe was also a four-year letterman playing varsity football for West Virginia State College but aside from all those accomplishments, it was the love and passion he had developed as a child for swimming that he always came back to. After moving to Baltimore in the late 1950’s and working for the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, Mr. Thorpe would offer swim lessons at some of the many city pools either schools or community recreation centers. Mr. Thorpe subsequently gained employment as a Baltimore City Public Schools Physical Education teacher. His home was School #64, Liberty Elementary but, it was the near tragedy of his namesake Marvin A. Thorpe II, at home, that would turbo-charge his passion and push him into teaching swimming, hence founding the 4M Swim Club in the Summer of 1972. Resultingly, students from ages 3 to 73 throughout the Baltimore Metropolitan area and surrounding counties, from all ethnic communities learned how to swim in his backyard pool located in Woodlawn. It has been estimated that “Mr. Thorpe”, as he was so well and affectionately known, had taught more than 15,000 students how to swim over his 4M Swim Club 32-year tenure before his death. Most importantly, it has been also said that “Mr. Thorpe” had taught more African-Americans to swim than any other local instructor in Baltimore or even the state of Maryland.
Mr. Thorpe’s love and passion not only provided an opportunity for people to learn how to swim, but his work saved countless lives and has improved the quality of life of thousands of people. He was certainly an asset and contribution to the community, building morals and character by teaching people how to swim that were afraid of the water. He was an instructor whose teaching methods involved a stern demeanor and employed positive discipline. Student by student, Mr. Thorpe was a one-man water safety campaign for decades. His ultimate dream was that there would be a time when there were no articles or reports of any child drowning. Marvin Thorpe, Sr. departed this life on October 12, 2004.
Since the death of Mr. Thorpe, Sr. his son, Marvin A. Thorpe II, has become the new President /Program Director for 4M Swim. “Mr. Thorpe,” as he is called, had worked side-by-side with his father teaching swimming for 30 years. Presently, he is working on taking the 4M Swim Dream to the next level. Read all about the next phase on the “Fundraising For The Future” page (About > Fundraising For The Future).
“ I strive to create a culture for the entire community that revolves around swimming”
Officially, founded by Marvin A. Thorpe, Sr. in the summer of 1972 in his Windsor Mill, Maryland backyard pool, it can be modestly said that the 4M Swim Club has taught more African-Americans how to swim in the Baltimore Metropolitan area than any other learn to swim entity. 50+ years and still counting and growing through his son and namesake, the program now includes the 4MSC/FMSC Yellowjackets USA Swimming Age Group Swim Team and the 4MSC Yellowjackets US Masters Swim Team. Never forgetting it's roots and where it all began, come learn to swim at the historic the 4M Swim Club!