EDITOR’S NOTE: Legendary NCRD swim program manager and aquatics director Sue Gray announced her resignation as aquatics director last week, and asked the Pioneer to share her letter, which is also addressed to the community.
NCRD has announced a “soft opening” of the new aquatics center on September 15th, which means the swim programs and schedule will shift to the new facility, and a grand opening celebration is being planned for a later date. At this time, Sue will continue on a part-time basis to oversee the transition as a temporary, part-time employee.
To: NCRD Board of Directors, NCRD Staff, Friends, & Beloved Community,
Kindly accept this letter as my formal resignation as NCRD Aquatic Director on September 6, 2025. This decision was not made lightly.
It is only appropriate that I resign along with our cherished renaissance pool. We both are accomplished and resilient with historical significance.
The Legendary Nehalem Pool leaves an indelible mark on our community. It is the light that guided us into the future and was the launching pad for the newly erected facility!
With this shift come changes, but let us not forget to honor its legacy and accomplished mission of teaching all the children in our community how to swim and be safe in and around the water.
I am incredibly grateful for the NCRD staff and our community for their trust and confidence while supporting my mission and vision throughout the years.
It has been my pleasure to serve our community. I have appreciated the reinforcement and inspiration from my colleagues and contemporaries.
As I reflect on my career as Aquatics Director, I am proud of the valuable accomplishment of my devoted service and accommodation to all our patrons.
To my coworkers past and present, you are the heart of the NCRD. I am endlessly proud of the work we have done together and I will always cherish the laughter, challenges, and triumphs we have shared.
In fulfilling my commitment to the School Swim Program and its educational value, I would like to continue in the capacity of instructor/consultant until a qualified candidate appears. I am a valuable resource, since I developed, created, and implemented the current School Swim & Water Safety program 35 years ago. My dedication to the program has been my life’s purpose and personal reward. It has been an honor to watch so many children find their confidence in the water and to celebrate these milestones in and out of the pool.
The generations of families who have benefited from the School Swim and Water Safety program is our Grand Prize……Mission Accomplished!
The new pool facility is an exciting trajectory into another 100 years of NCRD continuing its outstanding purpose as an esteemed organization for all! I am confident that it will succeed.
I am committed to a smooth transition and will do my best to help where needed.
I will remain a familiar face at the new pool, enjoying it alongside all of you.
Thank-you from the bottom of my heart for letting me be part of your lives. This is not goodbye—-it is just a new lane I will be swimming in.
I can let go……the water will still flow……And so will I……
With love and gratitude.
Sue Dindia-Gray
Sue’s mission and lifelong commintment has been teaching and providing swim lessons to the kids of our community for the last 35 years! She was an active participant in the creation of the North County Recreation District in 1997. Sue has been a Red Cross certified lifeguard, and Water Safety & Swim Lesson Instructor (WSI) for 30 years. The last 26 years, she has been School Swim Program Manager & Lead Instructor. Her devotion to the Nehalem Elementary School Swim Program was recognized by the Tillamook County Futures Council, who in 2012 awarded her the Strategic Vision Award in the Youth & Education Category. Sue specializes in adaptive swim instruction, Aqua tots, Red Cross, and YMCA learn to swim programs. She works hard to conduct all swim lessons in a nurturing and enthusiastic environment with every student’s safety and progress in mind. Being a dedicated life long water enthusiast, Sue shares her innovative programming with patrons of all ages. From being educated in the Total Immersion Program to creating and developing the comprehensive School Swim Programs, which encompass swim skills, stroke technique, water safety, health, fitness, and drowning prevention skills. One of Sue’s proudest accomplishments has been conducting the annual Pool-A-Thon Fundraiser for the last 30 years. This fundraiser has been instrumental in securing funds to help support Nehalem’s School Swim Program. Overall, Sue is thankful that she has been able to combine her passion for water sports with her love of teaching and kids for the last 30 years.