Dr. John Birch turned 100 on July 11, and there was a celebration at the Cape Elizabeth pool for him before, during and after his swim. The pool lobby was decorated with balloons denoting his 100th year, along with birthday signs and streamers. And instead of candles, there were 100 doughnut holes.

The location of the birthday party was appropriate for, up until two years ago, when he broke his hip, he was a regular at the 5:45 a.m. swim. I don’t know him personally, but off and on over the last several years I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him swim some of his daily laps.

I’ve been able to witness these laps because I start running with a group of people at 5 a.m. from the pool parking lot. Most mornings while running we passed Dr. Birch and other early-bird swimmers on their way to the pool. Some mornings we returned and entered the pool lobby in time to greet Dr. Birch and his friends, Henry Adams and James Underwood, before they dove into the pool. One particular morning while we stretched and complained about tight hamstrings, sore backs and how long it took us to run the route, we saw Henry and Dr. Birch sitting on a table outside the pool. They were swinging their feet while waiting patiently with no complaints for the early morning lifeguard to arrive to open the pool.

Lisa Petrucelli became his friend shortly after taking the job as the pool director in the spring of 2000. On his 95th birthday she and the rest of the pool staff presented him with a new Speedo. Knowing that Dr. Birch swam almost every day for 30-45 minutes, Lisa gave him another Speedo the following Valentine’s Day.

After he broke his hip he couldn’t continue his daily swim routine, but I remember Lisa telling me that if she knew Dr. Birch, he would be back. So with that in mind, Lisa arranged a 99th birthday swim-celebration at the pool. He dove into the pool and swam some laps. After he finished and climbed out of the pool Lisa promised Dr. Birch a lifetime membership to the pool on his next birthday.

True to her word, Lisa obtained a certificate signed by Town Manager Mike McGovern and Community Services Director Sue Weatherbie giving Dr. Birch lifetime membership to the Cape Elizabeth Pool. His friend Henry presented the plaque to Dr. Birch in the pool lobby shortly after he walked in. Dr. Birch then went directly to the pool locker room and came out in his Speedo and in his distinctive dive made a splash into the water.

This year he swam seven laps, and when he climbed out to applause and cheering he said, “I quit before I should’ve.”

Lisa said he quit because he thought he was holding people up. To my way of thinking he was well worth the wait.

One of the last things Lisa said to Dr. Birch before he left the building was, “See you next year, same place and same time.”

I’m sure everyone present this year marked the calendar for Dr. Birch’s next birthday swim.

Henry Adams, left, stands with Dr. John Birch on the pool deck.