The unsinkable Alex Calabrese
Alex Calabrese has come a long way from Neversink, the tiny New York town (pop. 3,557) where he fell in love with sports, guitar, and swimming. But even if he’s moved on, making a new home in Boston, he’s stayed true to his Neversink roots, by avocation — playing in a neo-folk band of the same name — and occupation. Calabrese is Harvard’s first full-time lifeguard in nearly a decade. While keeping swimmers afloat is Calabrese’s job, “the original town of Neversink is actually underwater. It was bought by New York City and turned into a reservoir,” he said. Thankfully, Calabrese has never had to make a dramatic rescue. At the Malkin Athletic Center, where he oversees the pool, “It’s a lot of responsibility, but very low stress.” Having lived in Boston less than a year, Calabrese has not sunk — rather, he’s made a name for himself. He arrived in November with his...