Water has always been the center of John DeMeyer’s life.

From sailing to boat building and pool managing to program directing, H2O seems to be a focal point in his life, especially in his work as the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District recreation director.

In his next life phase, there will still be water, water everywhere.

After a 30-year career as the recreation director, DeMeyer will take his wife, boat and dog and sail off into retirement.

“It’s good we’re sailing away to get some perspective,” said DeMeyer, who will be spending time in both Alaska and Mexico’s waters with his wife, Donna. “We rented our house out, so we’ll be back.”

In the early ’80s, DeMeyer started his career with the parks district while going to boat-building school in Seattle. First, he worked part-time and then went to full-time for the district, making his way up the ladder and finally settling into the role he fills until April 30. A retirement party is set to celebrate his career on April 24.

“I’m leaving feeling like I’ve spent a while making sure everything is self-sustaining,” he said. “I know they’ll do good.”

His work load will be divided among two superintendents in the division, and a part-time employee will be brought on full-time due to the retirement.

Terry Lande, executive director of the parks district, met DeMeyer for the first time during Lande’s job interview. DeMeyer offered a tour of the island, showing Lande exactly what he would be walking into.

“He was so straightforward and honest about everything,” Lande said.

Since that initial meeting, Lande has been nothing but impressed by DeMeyer’s hard work ethic, which has including working on obtaining the Sakai property, founding a variety of water sports like sailing and free diving, and more.

“If you throw water on it, he probably started it,” Lande joked.

Lande noted that DeMeyer’s personal perseverance is something that’s been motivational and incredible to watch over the years. It took 10 years for DeMeyer to get the funding to build a new aquatics center due to overcrowding. Again and again he took it to the public to pass the bond for a pool he knew would be well-used and needed. After failing four times, the public finally passed it. It’s that same determination that Lande has seen from DeMeyer as he worked on the job and made a plan for his retirement.

“He’s always been an above and beyond kind of guy,” he said, noting that DeMeyer is usually at work before anyone else. “You’re always chasing him all the time. He’s always doing 100 miles per hour. He’s always got a smile on his face. He makes work fun.”

Jeff Ozimek, outdoor program manager, said working under DeMeyer often offered unique opportunities and funny memories that he might not have otherwise had — like cleaning otter poop.

When Ozimek was first hired, the two went out to a dock to prep an area for outdoor activities, and Ozimek was tasked — by DeMeyer — to clean up the animal mess.

“I was cleaning otter poop; he had this big smile,” Ozimek recalled with a laugh. “I got the otter poop detail.”

Aside from enjoying his boss’s sense of humor, Ozimek noted DeMeyer’s door would always be open for a chat.

“He’s like the Bill Murray of recreation,” he said. “He’s always laughing. I’ve never seen him upset or angry. He’s incredibly knowledgeable. He’s just an inspiration.”

As a supervisor for recreation, DeMeyer also coached those below him, encouraging creativity and spontaneity, said Bryan Garoutte, gymnastics program manager.

Garoutte met DeMeyer 26 years ago while working together at the pool. Even then, Garoutte said he was struck by DeMeyer’s calmness and willingness to let go.

“He doesn’t micromanage. He allows us to be creative,” said Garoutte.

One program in particular that Garoutte spearheaded with the support of DeMeyer was Parkour, an acrobatic outdoor fitness program. Trying things out for some time to make sure it worked out the kinks was also important, something DeMeyer highly encouraged, Garoutte said.

It’s that easygoing nature that he will miss the most, as will others.

“I haven’t had a boss that  way in my entire life,” admitted Garoutte. “I’ve been lucky.”