Legendary synchronized swimming coach and professor dies at 91

Peers knew Margaret Swan Forbes, who advocated for synchronized swimming to be an Olympic sport, as a winner.

"If you tried to sum up Mama, she was electricity, warm and energetic, but would shock you if you disrespected her," her son, Tim Swan, 57, said.

She died Dec. 18 at the age of 91.

A memorial service was Jan. 7 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

Forbes started working at this college in 1961 and also coached this colleges' Marlins Synchronized Swim Team, which was founded in 1956.

In 1984, she wrote "Coaching Synchronized Swimming Effectively," which the international community used for 20 years to teach synchronized swimming.

Bill Richardson, kinesiology and dance chair, said Tuesday, Forbes was "the originator of tough love."

She was hardcore when it came to students, but they appreciated her discipline and work ethic, he said.

Sammye Smith, 65, a retired physical education professor who shared an office four years with Forbes in the late 1970s, learned a passionate and strict work ethic from her colleague and friend.

"She had the same dedication for beginner swimmers as she did for a national synchronized swimming team," Smith said.

She remembers Forbes being strict but hilarious.

"From the day I walked in, we had a good time," she said.

Smith laughs about the day she brought Forbes coffee right after she was done swimming. Little did she know the coffee cup was made of metal coil and accidently shocked Forbes. She jokingly accused Smith of trying to electrocute her.

Forbes' favorite food was raw onions and sardines, Smith said.

She said the sun would always beam through their offices, so when students visited the office it would smell of sardines.

Not only did she have a quirky personality, Forbes had a big heart.

She invited Smith to live with her when found out Smith had a home in Castroville, but kept an apartment in San Antonio to avoid late night commutes after games.

Smith lived with Forbes and Forbes' mother for a year and a half.

"It was an offer of generosity," she said.

During this time, Forbes served on the Synchro Olympic Committee.

Forbes' talents led her to become team manager for the 1971 U.S. Synchro Team at the Pan American Games.

Her colleagues knew her as a driven professor.

"She was an extremely talented professor, extremely competitive and a wonderful person who dedicated herself to swimming," said physical education Professor Ronny Culpepper Wednesday.

Forbes was an amazing teacher because she was there for her students, he said.

Richardson and Smith remember Forbes swimming as graceful as a fish. Smith said, "When I knew her, she was in her 50s, but when she swam she floated through the water so easy and so smooth."

Her son Tim Swan recalled her dedication to swimming. "Mama was a water person. She had every water certification a person could have."

Forbes founded the girls' Cygnets of San Antonio, a nationally-recognized synchronized swim team, eponymously named as young swans.

She helped the University of the Incarnate Word establish a varsity synchronized team. A 2000 Olympian was hired to coach the team.

Richardson and Smith said wherever Forbes competed she won.

"She was very strict with her athletes; if they are here to compete, they have to take the sport seriously," Smith recalled Forbes' philosophy.

During training, Smith recalled watching fascinated as Forbes taught her athletes to spiral in water and pushed them until they perfected the move.

Athletes and students loved Forbes, but joking was for after training.

Swan credits his mother with instilling the same competitive spirit in him, which has helped him become a successful businessman.

Forbes had the same drive even in her infant classes where she taught babies how to swim before they could walk.

"She was an advocate for her students, teachers, and she would stand up for faculty," Smith said. "She was not only good teacher, but a good friend."

In one of her beginning swim classes, a student almost drowned, but Forbes was able to revive her before an ambulance came.

"I remember it touched her deeply and she was shook up for a few days," Smith said.

Before Forbes' retirement in 1980, her department threw her a farewell party and gave her a CPR doll to remind her she saved a life.

"Very few offer the abilities of friendship like Margaret Swan (Forbes)," Culpepper said.

In 2001, Forbes was awarded professor emeritus status for the dedication and service she brought to this college.

Some of Forbes many awards included induction into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame, San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame and Texas Women's Hall of Fame.

The older Forbes got the less she could rely on her athleticism, Swan said.

He and close friends, though, saw a change in Forbes; she was happy and content.

"It's as though she finally surrendered to winning and was just content to live," Swan said.