Leo P. Majcher

HOLDEN - Leo P. Majcher, 84, of Holden, Massachusetts died Sunday, November 11, 2007 when he suffered a heart attack while swimming his daily 500 meter swim.

He was born December 9, 1922 the son of Felix Majcher and Bessie Majcher of Worcester, Massachusetts. He was the husband of Edith (Bacher) Majcher for over 52 years.

Leo was a driving force in the promotion of swimming in the Worcester County Area from 1930 through his death. His swimming career began in 1930, when he joined the Ionic Avenue Boys Club swim team. In 1941, he swam the anchor leg on the Championship Worcester 400-yard Free Style Team which won the National Boys Club title. He then went on to win the New England Junior AAU 100-Yard free style title.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II serving from 1942 to 1946. He was stationed at the Newport, Rhode Island Naval Training Camp, where he was a member of their representative swim team. While on his tour of Duty in the South Pacific, he swam in the Emirau Island Swimming Championships. He received his rank of Hospital Apprentice Second Class from the United States Navy on February 26, 1943.

After leaving the service, he joined the full-time staff at the Worcester Central YMCA and was responsible for developing and promoting swimming. During his 38-year career with the YMCA, he held the position of Aquatics Director, Associate Physical Education Director and Senior Program Director. Throughout his lifetime he taught swimming to thousands of individuals. He also founded the Worcester Swim Club and the YMCA Sea Lions. His swimming teams won 15 YMCA Regional Championships, Three AAU National Top-Ten Champions and an impressive lifetime meet record of 199 wins and only 31 losses. He was instrumental in the progress of the Worcester “Y” Aquamaids gaining prominence in competitive swimming.

He started the Worcester Junior College Swim Program with a group of inexperienced men and women to an impressive initial 12 wins during the1951 swim season. He was listed in the Worcester Telegraph on April 22, 1979, as one of the top 9 people to leave their mark on the City of Worcester during the past three decades. He retired from the YMCA on December 31, 1984. Leo also had a passion for gardening and working outdoors. He had the ability to make anything grow. He was a great athlete and avid sports fan.

After his retirement, Leo continued to work for the next 20 years just to stay busy. For numerous summers, he was Head Coach at Pinecrest Swim Camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was employed at Unilect in Auburn, MA from 1985 to 2003. He was currently employed at Mat-Kim Industries in Oxford since 2003. Leo continued to stay active with the YMCA and was also a campaign member of the YMCA Capital Development Initiative to raise funds to improve and expand the YMCA facilities in Worcester.

Leo is survived by his son, Mark Majcher and his wife, Diane Majcher of Hollis, New Hampshire, and his two grandchildren, JP Majcher and Samantha Majcher, and his sister, Alice George of Worcester, Massachusetts. His wife of 52 years, Edith Majcher, predeceased him in 2002. His brother, Thaddeus Majcher of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts predeceased him in 2000 and his sister, Eleanor Corkum of Holden, Massachusetts also predeceased him.

A calling hour will be held at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street (Rte. 122A), Holden, on Friday, November 16th from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. with a Memorial Service to start promptly at 7:00 p.m. Interment will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, November 17th, in Worcester County Memorial Park, 217 Richards Avenue (Rte. 56), Paxton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the YMCA of Greater Worcester “Strength of the Team” Capital Development Initiative, 766 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01610.

Website & Guest book: www.milesfuneralhome.com