Before the Nor-Cal Relays began on Feb. 5, 12 swim and dive teams from Northern California, including SRJC, along with many of Tim Nobriga’s friends and family celebrated his accomplishments and showed their appreciation for his contributions to the Northern California swimming and diving community, not knowing what fate had in store.

Nobriga devoted 37 years to SRJC and was planning to retire at the end of this season, which prompted SRJC head swim coach Jill McCormick, to plan a surprise celebration acknowledging his career.

More than 400 friends, coaches, swimmers and divers gathered around the SRJC outdoor pool to show their support. “It was a spur of the moment thing. Very informal, but there’s only a certain amount of home meets, and I knew a lot of people who Tim knew and cared about would be there,” McCormick said.

The morning of the relays McCormick was still having second thoughts about having the celebration. After talking with assistant dive coach, Nolan Irwin, she finally decided to go through with it. She instructed Irwin to gather everyone around the outside pool right before the meet was scheduled to begin.

McCormick and Nobriga’s wife, Sue Nobriga, stood on each side of him while McCormick spoke and paid tribute to his career. McCormick also described one of the most memorable moments of the celebration was when one of Nobriga’s former divers and current head dive coach at American River, Dede Fritsch, spoke about Nobriga’s influence on her life. Fritsch was the first SRJC woman to earn state champion in 1985 and still holds all four diving records at SRJC.

Fritsch explained that without Nobriga’s tutelage she wouldn’t have been able to accomplish those records and also she wouldn’t have decided to coach. Many involved with that heart-warming celebration now cherish that moment.

During his tenure, Nobriga motivated and molded countless young adults into respective role models. However, his contributions reach out much further then SRJC; Nobriga is regarded as a Northern California diving legend.

But only one week later, the Northern California aquatic community suffered a devastating loss when SRJC head dive coach, Nobriga, died at his home from a heart attack on Feb. 14.

He began his career at SRJC in 1974 as assistant diving coach, and in 1977 he was hired full-time as an adjunct instructor. He was also assistant water polo coach* for 15 years. Before he died, Nobriga was an aquatics instructor and the head dive coach for both the men and women.

McCormick was a close friend to Nobriga, working with him for 11 years. She described how his presence alone served as motivation for all swimmers, divers and coaches at SRJC. McCormick said Nobriga embodied the SRJC tradition of stability and resilience and was always a dependable source of inspiration.

“Just as you could rely on the sun rising, you could rely on Tim. He was a creature of habit. The strong silent type, just happy with inspiring others and didn’t need any recognition for his work,” McCormick said.

Irwin, former diver and friend of Nobriga, met Nobriga at a Santa Rosa diving class when he was 9 years old and formed a strong relationship with him, which lasted 17 years. “He for sure had a huge impact on diving techniques and… decisions,” Irwin said. Nobriga announced his decision to retire in 2009, so SRJC could find a replacement. Irwin was the first choice to take over his position after being the assistant dive coach for the past two years.

When asked about Nobriga’s coaching influences Irwin said, “Instead of telling you exactly what to do, he tried to lead you in the right direction, and let you figure it out. He was an amazing motivator and he was great at getting his divers to give their best.”

Irwin will take over the head dive coach position and he realizes how much this season means to the teams. “There’s a lot of mixed emotions around here right now, but no one needs to be motivated. They know what it would mean if we won state,” Irwin said.

Head Athletic Director, Jim Forkum, didn’t know Nobriga outside of work, but knew how much he meant the Santa Rosa diving community. “The biggest regret I have is never telling Tim how much he meant to SRJC and the entire diving community. He will definitely be missed,” Forkum said.

Nobriga’s contributions will never be forgotten, and both swim and dive teams have dedicated this season on his behalf.

*The article originally referred Nobriga as head water polo coach.