Gwen “Coach” Whildin, 66, died Jan. 21, 2019, in her home in Pompano Beach, Fla., of complications from diabetes and ESRD. She was the daughter of the late Lois and Lew Whildin.

Formerly of Bearsden in Germansville, she graduated from Parkland High School, Lock Haven University and did graduate work at the University of Montana and East Stroudsburg University.

She taught and coached swimming for Panther Valley School District for four years and Northampton Area School District for 32 years, retiring as coordinator of the district health and physical education program.

She coached the girls swim team at Emmaus High School during the 2006-2007 perfect season when they won district and state championships, with six state champions.

At Northampton High School, she had 72 state finalists, 18 state champions, eight Mountain Valley Conference titles, the 1993 PIAA boy’s state championship team, and several other titles, including Coach of the Year in 1993 and Express Times 2014 Swim Coach of the Year.

She was inducted into the Northampton High School Hall of Fame in 2010.

She founded and coached the KIDS US swim club. Her swimmers won numerous awards including five US Swimming All-Americans and a 2000 Paralympic World Champion.

As a letter writer to The Morning Call noted on her retirement, “Coach Whildin leaves behind hundreds of swimmers who are better people because she was part of their lives.”

She is celebrated by these former students, numerous colleagues and friends, her partner Woody and her sister Sara.

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Services are private.