Cindy and Chip Dell

When couples love each other and take one another’s hand in marriage, they usually have reached a crucial level of comfort with each others’ presence. It may even seem like they have known each other their whole lives, but for special education teacher and swimming/water polo coach Cindy and her husband Chip Dell, that perception is actually the reality.

“We met when we were one…Yep, one year old!” Cindy Dell said. “Our parents were friends and we lived next door to them. When I was in second grade and he was in third grade, we played as childhood friends.”

After a decent period of time in their early lives as family friends, it was a long time afterwards and a reconnection that broke open the romantic chemistry.

“We will remember in Dallas about 25 years later,” Chip Dell said. “And Cindy thought about marrying after the first date. She even saw a ring pretty early on and said ‘when you’re ready to marry me, here’s the ring.’”

Soon enough, Cindy and Chip built a family they value tremendously, while growing a relationship with the LFHS community that has spanned decades.

Between Cindy’s teaching job and her primary role in the Boys Swimming institution at LFHS, it has been Chip’s support that has sustained the commitment to excellence.

“He is definitely the #1 cheerleader of the team. In the last 16 years he’s only missed about 10 meets – including banquets,” she said.

The support is no secret to members of the swim team, who recognize it and appreciate it.

“[Cindy] could go on for hours talking about him if you let her,” senior Captain Luke Lanigan said. “He also is in the weight room with us every Friday morning which shows how invested he is in this team and it’s success.”

Cindy and Chip Dell’s daughter Ashley is an LFHS Wall of Fame member from the Class of 2005 for 500 Freestyle and All-Conference captain. She went on to swim at the University of Iowa and is still a top 10 all time distance swimmer there, and since coached at George Washington, SMU, and her alma mater. She is currently closer to home as an assistant coach at the University of Illinois — Chicago, and across her entire career, has enjoyed the impeccable support of her father.

“Our daughter has been in the swimming world for the last 27 years, and [Chip has] not only been my cheerleader, but also her cheerleader — he coached a lot too when our kids were young, and has driven all over the country to watch her swim and coach,” said Dell.

Today we celebrate a holiday all about love and special relationships in our lives, and at the core of all of them is trust and support, something that Cindy and Chip Dell have harnessed better than anyone could imagine. When you look at it, it’s easy to say that it is the endurance and commitment from the beginning.

“It’s a long life of our families knowing each other. We went to parties together in our teens and twenties — and even as babies,” Chip said. “Our parents would bring us and we would go to sleep together in our playpens.”

But despite all the admiration that can be had for a lifelong relationship, the couple themselves tend to put it in more simple terms.

“We’re a good team” Cindy said.

We wish Cindy and Chip Dell a lovely 38th anniversary this coming May, and everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day.