Aaron L. McCoy Sr., who served as a director of two city pools and a mentor to area children, died Monday of an unknown illness at his mother's West Baltimore home. He was 43.

Mr. McCoy worked for the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks for 23 years. His duties included supervising the Macabee pool at Gilmor and Laurens streets in the summer and the Callowhill pool at 2821 Oakley Ave. in the Pimlico area during the off-season.

"He was very efficient and dependable," said Portia Harris, city aquatics director. "He had a great ability to relate to the swimming-pool patrons and keep order."

Colleagues said Mr. McCoy would work assignments that others declined, such as the Macabee pool near Gilmor Homes in Sandtown.

"He loved the job working with the kids in the pools," said Thayer Robinson, former city aquatics director. "Not everybody wanted to work in that area."

Friends and family say Mr. McCoy took equal pride in his work with kids outside his job. He coached in basketball leagues, served as a Boy Scout leader and worked with the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.

"He's been a positive influence on a lot of kids," said his wife, the former Linda Johnson. "He has always been involved in any way he can help."

In addition to coaching kids, Mr. McCoy loved to play basketball and participated in various leagues, family members said.

"There are a ton of trophies over here," said Mr. McCoy's stepson, Marcus Johnson. "He played a lot of basketball."

Mr. McCoy was born in West Baltimore, one of seven siblings.

"He was just interested in the children because of where he grew up," Mrs. McCoy said. "He tried to give back."

His children remembered him as an understanding father.

"He was open and you could discuss any problem you had," said his daughter, Nikia.

In 1978, Mr. McCoy graduated from Southwestern High School and later attended Coppin State College, where he studied physical education.

He and his family became members of Gospel Tabernacle Baptist Church in November 2000. Services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the church, 2100 Walbrook Ave.

In addition to his wife, daughter and stepson, Mr. McCoy is survived by a son, Aaron McCoy Jr.; two sisters, Cynthia Jones and Joanne McCoy, both of Baltimore; two brothers, Thomas McCoy and Johnnie McCoy, both of Baltimore; and a granddaughter.