Swimming coach Mick Lord made the most of every day of his last 15 years. His new kidney was his second chance - a gift that helped him live long enough to know his six grandchildren.
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"We have had our father an extra 15 years and our kids got to know him - that's really special," Karen Parkes said yesterday.
Her dad - the man who steered her to the 1988 Seoul Olympics - died on Friday.
Mr Lord was best known for his successes in the pool. Karen and brother Gary represented Australia at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.
Back home, he was known to ruffle a few feathers at Oak Flats pool - kicking out kids who broke the rules - but his "no bull" approach drew him respect from children and parents alike.
Mr Lord was Shellharbour-Warilla Amateur Swimming Club coach from 1975 to 1990 and pool manager.
Mrs Parkes said her dad had more power around the pool than a police officer.
"He'd hide behind the walls and bust kids doing bombs," she said.
Even after he retired in 1990, Mr Lord was called upon for his knowledge and experience.
"If he was on the pool deck, people would come up and go 'Are you coming out of retirement, Mick? Can you coach our kids?' He was like the Pied Piper," recalls son-in-law Simon Parkes.
He was at home by the pool but his first passion was his grandchildren. Mrs Parkes has fond memories of Mr Lord turning up with a lolly pop at 5am to take her son, Max, to training.
"As if we ever had lollies in the house," uncle Gary bemoaned.
But Max and the other five grandkids - Jack, Jasmine, Jacob, Abby and Amelia - knew they didn't need to dive into the pool to get Pop's attention - he was into anything they were into.
Karen and Gary will be forever grateful to the anonymous person who saved their dad's life and they urged others to consider organ donation.
"Somebody else lost their life and he regained his," Karen said.
Never a day went by when Mr Lord didn't appreciate his gift.
"After he got that kidney, I've never seen a man walk so fast and so proud," Mr Parkes said.
A service for Mr Lord will be held today at Northcliffe Chapel, Kembla Grange, at 10am.
