They filed into Gerber Chapel in groups, in pairs, and some alone.
An estimated 350 people were at Washington University on Saturday to honor Wally Lundt.
The unofficial founding father of aquatic sports in St. Louis, Mr. Lundt died on Dec. 26, 2011, at the age of 84.
The Missouri High School Swimming Association annually presents the "Wally Lundt Award," which goes to the person who has done the most for the sport of swimming. The award is appropriately named.
For almost 60 years, Mr. Lundt coached swimming and water polo, with the bulk of his career spent at Clayton.
As a coach, he produced 10 Missouri water polo championships at Clayton and a Missouri state swimming and diving championship at Normandy. He is a member of both the Missouri and USA Water Polo halls of fame.
"People don't realize how instrumental he was to St. Louis aquatics," longtime MICDS swimming and water polo coach Don Casey said. "We didn't have girls swimming in the 1960s, and Wally began that process. He impacted a lot of people on a lot of different levels."
A Washington University graduate, Mr. Lundt was hired as a physical education teacher and swimming coach at Normandy, which he led to a state title in 1954. He began his career at Clayton in 1957.
In 1960, along with Ladue's Steve Neilson and University City's Bill Pohlman, Mr. Lundt formed the first water polo high school league in St. Louis. The sport gradually picked up steam to the current 22 high schools with teams. Pohlman, who continues to referee high school and college water polo, said Mr. Lundt was a professor in and out of the water.
"He was an excellent teacher who was concerned about people," Pohlman said. "Everyone felt so strongly about him."
In 1993, Mr. Lundt became water polo and boys swimming coach at Lafayette. He later returned to Clayton, where he coached boys swimming and water polo until his death.
Members of the 2010 Clayton swimming and diving team filled the first three rows at the memorial service Saturday, where family, colleagues, friends and former athletes spoke of Mr. Lundt's influence. Greyhounds captains Zach Praiss, Jonathan Shumay and Alex Yepez were among the ones offering words of remembrance.
Afterward, the city of Clayton held a "Celebration of the Life of Wally Lundt" at the Center of Clayton.
"It was incredibly lovely," said Ann Lundt, Mr. Lundt's widow. "A beautiful gift from the city of Clayton."
Mr. Lundt was manager of the Clayton Water Sports Center, a position he had held since 1952. At one point during the ceremony, Don Clooney asked how many in attendance either swam or played water polo for Mr. Lundt, and half the crowd raised its hand.
Ann Lundt said the outpouring of flowers, cards and calls have been breathtaking.
"It astounds me," she said. "He influenced thousands of kids. He was a dedicated teacher and coach."
