Why I Swam: Rhea Teves

Nearly 30 years ago, Rhea Teves was sitting in Fort Phoenix looking out across Buzzards Bay, when she saw swimmers in the water coming towards her for the annual Buzzards Bay Coalition Swim.

Teves had moved to the area in 1992, and her first husband passed away four years later. She was only in her 60s. Her kids were grown. She had been a wife and mother for as long as she could remember, and was looking for things she could accomplish at that age. And the idea came to her that moment: “I think I can do that.”

She went to the YMCA and signed up for a swim class. It took her two years of swimming before she felt comfortable signing up for the Swim. A storm blew in the day of the Swim, and it was unfortunately cancelled. But she was persistent and took part the following year.

That began a stretch of more than 10 years of competing in the Swim as her own personal challenge and to raise money for the Coalition.

She is inspired by what the Coalition does for water quality and land conservation. She has spread the word about the Coalition and her experiences doing the Swim to many people she has known over the years. She has two grandsons who have done it. Her grandson Timmy was very surprised that his grandmother had done it for as long as she had at the age she was. Another grandson Keith, who now lives in Vermont, competes in long distance (100-mile) running races himself, perhaps influenced by his athletic grandmother. Her niece has taken part in the Swim. Teves was able to convince friends from the Unitarian Church to compete in the Swim, including the minister’s husband. “I have written and mailed more than 200 letters to friends and relatives requesting donations,” says Teves.

Teves, now in her 90s, stopped competing in the swim after a hip replacement. She stayed swimming at the Y years after to rehabilitate and get exercise, but now she is happy to know that her years doing the swim have made a difference and inspired others to follow her lead.  Swimmers like Teves have raised over $2 million that directly supports the Coalition’s work to improve the water quality of Buzzards Bay.

When asked what she tells people when they ask her if they should do the Swim, she says, “I tell them to try. Take some lessons. Get in shape. I met a lot of good people.”

If you are interested in participating in the Swim like Teves did for so many years, go to our Buzzards Bay Swim page for more information and to register.