Stanley Richard Pocock

Stanley Richard Pocock

Stanley Richard Pocock, 91, was born and lived all of his life in Seattle. He grew up in Laurelhurst, attending Roosevelt High School and graduated in civil engineering from the University of Washington. Stan served in the Navy V12 program during WWII. Returning to Seattle, he expected do to nothing but join his father George building the now legendary Pocock shell business, until Al Ulbrickson, the Husky crew coach asked him to be assistant rowing coach at the University of Washington. He coached the lightweight and freshman crews from 1948-54, seldom losing a race. He now figured he could work full time but answered the call to help prepare a small group of men to compete in international and Olympic rowing, winning the gold medal in 1956, 60, and 64. He advanced shell design with many innovations such as fiberglass and carbon fiber, but beautiful wood was closest to his heart. He spent his lifetime teaching the Pocock (Conibear) stroke and method of rowing, emphasizing precision over brute strength.

Stan was a gifted engineer, rowing coach, and teacher with an unparalleled eye.

After retirement in 1985, he sold the shop to Bill Tytus in Everett, who successfully carries on the building of world-class shells. After 1985, he also coached some fine women's crews and often said, "Women's rowing is the best thing that has happened to rowing."

Stan was married to the late Lois Watne Pocock for 40 years and raised three children on Whidbey Island, WA. He met and married Suzanne Graves Pocock in 1992. In 1993, in honor of his father George, he built the Pocock rowing center in the University District with his mother, Frances, and his sister Patricia Van Mason. Sue and Stan lived for many years on Queen Anne Hill, travelled extensively, and built their dream summer home on Whidbey's Maxwelton Beach. In 2007 they settled happily into Horizon House retirement home in Seattle, where among the Residents and staff they found many new friends. Stan was a gifted, well -loved rowing coach who was strongly motivated to win. In private, he was a modest, gentle man, an inveterate storyteller, cribbage player, writer, historian, inventor, and builder, who above all deeply loved his family and friends. He was indeed legendary.

He is survived by his wife, Suzanne, his sister Patricia Van Mason (Ed), his daughter Susan Saul (Chuck), stepdaughter Lynn Chun (Lawrence), stepson Robert Graves (Nancy), seven grandchildren, Sarah and Elisabeth Chun, Brannen and Ryan Graves, Rebecca, Chip and Krystan Saul, his many relatives, and the families of Lois Watne. His sons, Greg and Chris, predeceased him.

There will be a ceremony for family and friends at Horizon House, 900 University Street, Seattle, Friday, January 2nd, from 2-4pm. The family requests that his rowing friends attend a second ceremony, January 3rd, at the Conibear boathouse on the University of Washington campus from 11-3pm. Further information can be found online at www.pocockfoundation.org. Donations honoring Stan may be made to the Pocock Rowing Foundation through their website or sent to George Pocock Rowing Foundation at 3320 Fuhrman Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98102, Horizon House, 900 University Street, Seattle, WA 98101, or to the charity of your choice.