Charles Anthony McIntyre Sr.

Charles A. McINTYRE, Sr. Charley McIntyre, beloved husband, father, and grandfather; passed away peacefully in Seattle , WA. on Wednesday, October 29th, 2008. He was 85 years old. Charley, as he was affectionately known, was born November 20th, 1922 to Charles Anthony and Muriel Ellen McIntyre in Philadelphia , PA. He was the eldest of five children. His father was a heavy equipment operator and union organizer, who once sparred with Jack Dempsey. His mother raised the children through the heart of the Great Depression. Young Charley was a great help to his mother in the early years, always lending a hand, and guiding his sib lings into their youthful adventures. Charley excelled in sports, and was captain of the Central High football team in Philadelphia . He went on to play football at Villanova, and played semi-pro football with his two broth ers for the Philadelphia Shamrocks. It was a chance invitation to try rowing on Boathouse Row in 1942 that would change his life. He soon devoted himself to rowing, and won the Schuyl kill River mileage trophy five times. Along with his brothers Richard and Joe, he was asked to row at the es teemed Vesper Rowing Club, when it was re-opened by Jack Kelly Sr. in 1945. Rowing for Vesper, they won multiple titles in the quadruple, dou ble, and single sculls. Charley won five national titles in the double sculls and competed in three Olympic Trials. In 1949 he followed his younger brothers out West to Seattle.where at the behest of Royal Brougham they were asked by Victor Denny to open the first sculling program in Seattle at the Seattle Tennis Club. They soon befriended the world famous boatbuilder and rowing legend George Pocock, who taught them the subtle graces of sculling. Charley became a true disciple of Mr. Pocock, and would go on to share this knowledge with fellow rowers for many years to come. Charley was a consummate teacher. He coached elite champion rowers over a span of 45 years, and he taught masters rowing in Seattle well into his 86th year. He also taught skiing at Alpental and Snoqualmie Pass over a span of 50 years. He had an instruc tors eye for detail, and would share his ideas with the interested, and the not so interested. In the past two years, following his 83rd birthday, he competed twice in the World Masters Rowing Champi onships, while fighting off the cancer that eventually took his life. During this time, Charley showed grace and a quiet courage that inspired all those around him. He has a log book of friends and acquaintances rivaling that of a foreign diplomat; he had a gift for conversation, an Irish wit, and he shared a true interest in his fellow man. For those who knew Charley McIntyre, the waters of Lake Washington , and the snows of the Cascades just won't be the same without him. Charley will be missed by his immediate and extended family. He was our loving father and patriarch. He is the beloved father of Bridget Ann (Richard) Cooley, Molly Ann (David) Fitch, Maura Ann (Luke) Imperatore, Charles Anthony McIntyre, Francis Joseph McIntyre, and Meghan Trudy McIntyre; grand father of Broderick Christopher Fitch, Georgia Ann Imperatore, and Charlotte Ann Imperatore and special niece Shannon McIntyre Woods; brother of Richard William (Joanne), Joseph Patrick (Bebe), Muriel Teresa (Alvin), and Barbara Rosalie; former husband of Ann Cummins McIntyre and Mary Martha Curo McIntyre. A memorial service will be held Friday, November 14th at 12:00 p.m. at St. James Cathedral, 804 9th Avenue, Seattle. Reception to follow at Seattle Tennis Club, 922 McGilvra Blvd. E. The family suggests that memorial gifts be made to The Charley McIntyre Rowing Club: for informa tion write to hotsculler@yahoo.com Please visit and contribute to Charley's blog at http://hotsculler@blogspot.com