Al Vande Weghe

Albert Joseph Vande Weghe (sometimes appearing as Vandeweghe; July 28, 1916 – August 13, 2002) was an American competition swimmer for Princeton University, a world record holder in backstroke events, and a 1936 Berlin Olympic silver medalist in the Men's 100 meter backstroke. After graduating from Princeton in 1940, he worked thirty-five years as a Chemical Engineer for Dupont Corporation, then after retiring in 1975, returned to swimming at age 74 in 1980 as a United States Masters swimmer for Tulsa Masters, winning many races in age group competitions.

Vande Weghe was born to Mrs. Valentine DeBruyne Vande Weghe and Belgian-born Mr. Achiel Vande Weghe, a furrier, in Rockaway Beach, New York on July 28, 1916, one of around five children, but grew up in greater Paterson, New Jersey where he learned to swim at the local YMCA. An athletic family, Albert's sister swam for Patterson Central High and set state records, his brother Jerome swam and played football for St. Lawrence College, and his brother Robert swam from an early age, and competed for Rutgers. Albert's father Achiel was a soccer enthusiast and in his youth taught children to swim as an avocation.