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Robert Perew

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Robert Perew
1948 Summer Olympic U.S. Rowing Team - Men's Coxless Fours
Personal information
Full nameRobert Strahan Perew
NicknameBob
Born(1923-08-05)August 5, 1923
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedNovember 14, 1999(1999-11-14) (aged 76)
Denton, Texas, U.S.
EducationYale University
OccupationSales manager
Sport
SportRowing
PositionBow seat
University teamYale Bulldogs
ClubWest Side Rowing Club
Medal record
Representing United States
Men's athletics
Bronze medal – third place 1948 London Coxless four

Robert "Bob" Strahan Perew (August 5, 1923 – November 14, 1999) was an American oarsman who was a bronze medalist in the 1948 Summer Olympics.[1]

Early life

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Perew was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] His parents were Bernice (née Strahan) and Robert Jackman Perew.[1]

Robert Perew and sister Alice, 1937
Robert Perew (in Navy uniform) and his father at the latter's 50th class reunion, Yale University,1946

Perew lived in Buffalo, New York, and West Palm Beach, Florida during his youth.[citation needed] He graduated from Lafayette High School in Buffalo in 1941.[1]

He then attended Yale University.[1] Midway through his college career, he enlisted in the submarine service of the U.S. Navy.[1] He was commissioned a communications officer on the USS Thornback (SS-418), serving in the Pacific during World War II.[2][1]

After the war, Perew returned to Yale, graduating in 1948 with a degree in mechanical engineering.[2][1]

Rowing

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Perew began rowing while in high school at Buffalo's West Side Rowing Club.[1] During college he was a member of the Yale Bulldogs' crew team in 1947 and 1948.[1]

While still in college, he was on the U.S. team at the 1948 Olympics.[2] He was part of the Men's Coxless Fours who took the bronze medal, alongside Gregory Gates, Stuart Griffing, and Frederick Kingsbury.[1][3] He had the bow seat.[4]

Career

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Perew worked for General Electric and Electric Boat.[4] He was then the sale manager for the northeast area for York International, retiring in 1989.[1]

He also served in the Navy Reserve until 1989, achieving the rank of lieutenant commander.[1]

Personal life

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He lived near Long Island Sound in Waterford, Connecticut for over forty years.[2] He had two daughters, Ann and Joyce.[1]

He was a member of the Yale-Harvard Regatta Committee for many years.[2] He was also a member of the Retired Officers Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the U.S. Olympic Alumni Association.[1] In addition, he was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in New London, Connecticut.[1]

In 1999, he died in Denton, Texas, where he lived from 1996 to 1999.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Foley, John (November 18, 1999). "Robert Perew, 76: Member of Committee for Yale-Harvard Regatta". The Day. pp. B6. Retrieved July 24, 2022 – via Google News.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Roberts Strahan Perew". Olympics. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  3. ^ Guinness Book of Olympic Records: Complete Roll of Olympic Medal Winners (1896-1960) for the 20 Sports to be Completed in the 1964 Games and All Other Essential Information. United States, Sterling Publishing Company, 1964. p. 73.
  4. ^ a b c "Bob Perew Bio, Stats, and Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference. April 18, 2020. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2022.