UNICO unveiled a new plaque at the Verona Community Pool, honoring Jed Graef, the Olympic swimmer who inspired its creation. Currently residing in Vermont, Jed's sister, Judy Graef, was there to unveil the plaque and kindly shared a few words on his behalf.

"Thank you for having this beautiful plaque placed at the pool in my honor. There are so many reasons to be grateful to Verona. Back when going through the school system, I was allowed to follow my own athletic path even though it was not one otherwise supported and I ended up being the first person in town to get a varsity letter for swimming. And, while it did take time, this pool was built for the community. It affords me great happiness to know that this facility is available to everyone, whether for recreation, learning to swim, competition, or just to cool off. Most importantly, thanks to all of you who are committed to the town and its residents and who help provide opportunities for everyone to follow their interests." - Jed Graef

When Graef attended Verona High School, the school had yet to establish a swim team. In the summers, Graef practiced at Lake Mohawk and Wayne Pond, and trained at indoor pools in Montclair, Harrison, and Brooklyn during the winter. Still, Graef broke state records and won championships as a solo competitor. His high school success led him to Princeton University, where he became varsity captain. During his senior year, Graef came in first for the 200 yard backstroke during the 1964 NCAA Championships.

Later that year, Graef travelled to Tokyo to swim the 200 meter backstroke. The twenty-two year old broke a world record in the preliminary heat, then shattered his own record by two seconds during the final race a day later. His 2:10:03 time stood for three years, and Graef was later inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Footage from this Olympics can be watched here.

After his performance, Graef toured Asia before returning to his hometown for “Jed Graef Day” celebrations on January 27, 1965. Festivities included speeches at local schools and a banquet at The Richfield Regency. 

While Graef’s swimming career largely concluded after the Olympics, he continued to excel in academia. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Michigan, becoming a leading figure in sports psychology. 

Today, the Verona Community Pool offers residents a variety of aquatic amenities, including water slides, a diving tank, a wading pool, and a fifty-meter Olympic-sized swimming pool. The Township finalized the construction of the pool in 1967, three years after Graef clinched gold at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, ensuring that future generations in Verona would be inspired and have the opportunity to train locally in an Olympic-sized facility.

This plaque and ceremony was made possible by UNICO Verona, with a special thank you to President Mickey Lawrence, Vice President Peter DiPetta, Treasurer James Fasanella, Donna Kiel and the rest of the Verona UNICO chapter. 

Olympic Photo & Video Credits: Wikipedia & International Swimming Hall of Game