Rick Pugliese

Rick Pugliese was one of Water Polo Canada’s most respected players. A member of the national team from 1969-76, he played close to 150 international matches and in back-to-back Olympic Games in 1972 (Munich), and on home soil in 1976 (Montréal). Pugliese also competed at the 1971 and 1975 Pan American Games, and the 1975 World Aquatic Championships.

Pugliese was introduced to swimming at his local pool in 1961 under the direction of 1928 Olympic relay silver medalist Jimmy Thompson of the Hamilton Aquatic Club (HAC). A talented all-around athlete, Pugliese competed for Cathedral High School in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, in both water polo and football. By 1965, he set a Canadian record in the medley relay with teammates David Hart, George Steplock and Craig Nesbitt. In 1967, Pugliese turned his attention to playing water polo under the direction of 1972 Olympian Robert Thompson (son of Jimmy). As part of a great water polo era with HAC, Pugliese won 10 Canadian titles (nine senior, 1 junior) from 1969-81.

A leader in and out of the pool, Pugliese was the captain of the Hamilton water polo club teams from 1977-81, and was named the most valuable player at the 1980 Senior Men’s National Championships. He studied at McMaster University in Hamilton where he was captain of the water polo dynasty teams that captured four consecutive Ontario University Athletics Association (OUAA) titles from 1971-74. Pugliese also spent four years on the varsity swim team at McMaster, where he specialised in the 100 metre butterfly and 200 metre individual medley.

Pugliese was a teacher at St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic High School in his Hamilton hometown, and with his wife of 36 years (Carol MacRimmon), had three sons (Corrie, Patrick, Matthew). He passed away at the age of 67 at Juravinski Hospital.