At 87 years old, Del Laughlin still walks through the doors of the Superior Douglas County Family YMCA nearly every day.
Del grew up in Spooner, Wisconsin, and moved to the area in 1960 for work. It wasn't long before he found his way to the YMCA. In 1969, he joined through a program called Indian Guides—a father-and-son initiative for boys aged 4 to 6. “My son and I had a lot of fun in that program,” he recalled. “We went out into the woods, cut cedar posts, and carved them into totem poles. It was a great bonding experience.”
Back then, the Y didn’t have a building. “We used to meet wherever we could—old buildings around the city,” Del said. He helped campaign for the construction of what is now the current YMCA building, which opened in 1972.
Over the years, Del found community and joy through the Y’s programs. He joined a men’s step aerobics group—just five guys in a room full of energetic women. “They could balance on one foot for half an hour. We guys were falling all over the place,” he laughed. “But it was a lot of fun.”
In 2002, after retiring from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Del rediscovered the Y through water volleyball. “I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun,” he said. “We’d have as many as 15 people playing with a beach ball so no one would get hurt. Everyone was always laughing. And if you fell, it didn’t hurt because you were in the water.”
Today, Del has slowed down a bit but remains a faithful visitor. “Now I come in, sit in the sauna, then go into the pool and kick my feet and wave my arms,” he says with a smirk. “I try to come six days a week—and go to church on Sunday.”
For Del, the Y is more than just a place to exercise. “The people who work here are such nice people—the lifeguards, the front desk staff, everyone. I come because I need the exercise, but I also need to talk to people. Someone will always come sit down and chat when I have my coffee. And the little kids, they run out and say, ‘Hi Mr. Del!’ Some of them even give me hugs.”
“All our Y kids love seeing him,” shared Morgan Bergman, Youth Development Director at the Superior YMCA.
Del is also a dedicated donor. “I want to see the Y keep going. I don’t want it to fail,” he shared of why he contributes.
After more than five decades of involvement, Del Laughlin’s story is a testament to the enduring power of community, connection, and the vital role the YMCA plays in so many lives.