Statement from Andy Nussbaum, Chairman of the Board, Asphalt Green.
Read by Pat Saunders at Memorial Service for Paul Fortoul.

To Paul's Dear Family, Friends and Fans,

Paul made Asphalt Green a better place and we shall miss him for it.  Over his years of dedicated service to aquatics at Asphalt Green, he showed the exemplary qualities of coaching.  He cared about swimmers at all levels, he took the time to express concern for, and pay attention to, individual needs -- whether due to fatigue, injury, the general stress of life or lack of confidence in or out of the water.  He was the "can do" coach -- who even at 6 am in the morning was ready to push people to reach a bit further and do a bit more, a little faster, or with better form and strength.

Paul's illness was doubly sad for many of us because, while Paul spent so much time over so many years focusing on us, his swimmers and the larger Asphalt Green community, he rarely spoke of himself.  For those of us who swam with him or were otherwise lucky enough to interact with Paul, Paul was a constant presence, even-toned, calm without being disinterested, motivating without being overbearing.

On behalf of the Asphalt Green Board, we extend our deepest condolences to Paul's family and friends, and we thank you for allowing Paul to be such a rich part of Asphalt Green for as long as he was.  Paul made Asphalt Green a better place, and we shall miss him for it.

- Andy Nussbaum
    Chairman of the Board, Asphalt Green