Staten Island Advance

West Brighton facility

By CHARLIE De BIASE JR.

Staten Island Aquatics served as this borough's main swimming facilities for 14 years before closing its doors for good nearly two decades ago.

The facility opened in 1988 thanks to the efforts of former Notre Dame Academy swimming coach Dr. Anthony Purpura, his wife Julia and a number of parents with the intent of providing a pool site for youngsters to train and compete.

Aquatics was home to a 25-meter pool that was built with $1.6 million from a $700,000 mortgage, money raised by parents and a significant contribution from the Purpuras according to Advance records. The Purpuras started the Staten Island Aquatics Association as a non-profit group dedicated to the physical well-being of children and adults, and the Aquatics team was registered with the U.S. Swimming Association.

It served as a home base/practice pool for a number of the Catholic high schools and the Catholic Grammar School Swim League for many years. But Dr. Purpura, who retired from NDA in 2002, unsuccessfully attempted to sell the two-story, corrugated-steel building on Post Avenue to a buyer who was interested in keeping the pool open.

"We want it to stay a pool if it can," Dr. Purpura said a few weeks before he closed the place on Aug. 20, 2002.

Purpura, at the time, said Aquatics was losing $35,000 a year -- an amount that was coming out of his own pocket to keep the facility open.

Although then-City Councilman Michael McMahon and Borough Parks Commissioner Thomas Paulo toured SIA to see if the city could feasibly acquire the pool for public use, it never came to fruition and with no takers from the swimming industry, the Purpuras eventually solid the facility to a developer.

Nonetheless, there were many fun and exciting moments at Staten Island Aquatics over its 14-years existence and SILive.com will take a stroll down memory lane with a slideshow on the now-defunct facility.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel

Dr. Purpura

Dr. Anthony Purpura, who was the 2002 Staten Island Advance Service Award winner, is pictured in his office at Staten island Aquatics in West Brighton.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Located on Post Ave.

The two-story, corrugated-steel building was located in West Brighton was been home to Staten Island Acquatics between 1988-2002.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel

Julia Purpura and NDA swimmers

Notre Dame Academy swimmers surround Director of Staten Island Aquatics Julia Purpura in 1997.

Kelly Elder is the one giving Purpura a hug.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Off to Italy

Stephanie Hernandez, Christian Konko, Justine Diaz, Sal Calcagno, and Francene Castillero of Staten Island Aquatics pose for a picture prior to a trip to Italy for training in 1998.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Synchronized swimming

Jennifer Herrera and Hemashi Perera of Staten Island Aquatics performed in the 14-15 age bracket in synchronized swimming during 1997.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Instruction for kids

Allison Moreau, a sophomore from Curtis HS in 1996, gives instruction to kids at the Staten Island Aquatics Pool.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Former Advance All Star

Ryan Murphy, a former Advance All Star swimmer from Monsignor Farrell, is in the Staten Island Aquatics pool in 1995.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Just like that, kid

Karen Castello, a sophomore at St. John Villa in 1996, showed one kid the finer points of swimming at the Staten Island Aquatics pool.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Come on in

Staten Island Aquatics instructor Mary Magnus, right shares a laugh with Lillian Dougherty, Amy Decker and Mary McMann in 1996.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel

The founders

Dr. Anthony Purpura talks strategy with his wife Julia at the Staten Island Aquatics pool in 1997.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Connie Meibauer and company

Long-time Monsignor Farrell swimming coach Connie Meibauer, right, is joined by, left to right, Larry Cichanowicz, Ryan Murphy, and Fred Cipoletti at Staten Island Aquatics in 1999.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Farrell reunion

Long-time Monsignor Farrell swim coach Connie Meibauer, right, meets with his former swimmers during a reunion at Staten Island Aquatics in 1989.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

All together now

From left, Rebecca Burke, Rachael Boyarsky, Erika Bonci, Carianne Losco and Cristina Vieira practice a Synchronized Swimming routine at Staten Island Aquatics in 2001.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Former Olympian

U.S. Olympian Brooke Bennett, left, chats with Christiana Thermos, Dayna Konko, Nikki Ruine and Yianni Thermos during the Ultimate Technique Clinic at Staten Island Aquatics in 2001.

Don't Edit