HARVARD VARSITY CLUB NEWS & VIEWS of Harvard Athletics www.harvardvarsityclub.org Volume 56, Issue No. 1 September 6, 2013 Harry by John Powers Copyright The Boston Globe, reprinted with permission As flotillas go this one wasn’t nearly as large as the Spanish Armada but over half a century it had acquired more precious booty — Olympic medals, silver loving cups, and enough Yale shirts to enrobe the Anderson Bridge. Five decades of Harvard oarsmen returned to the Charles on Saturday morning for a ceremonial row past Newell Boathouse to pay homage to Harry Parker, their master and commander who died in June after a final triumphant season. “It is a wonder,” marveled Charley Butt, the longtime lightweight coach who’ll succeed Parker as only the ninth director of the heavyweight program since 1852. “It is a testament to the guy. I can’t imagine half a century coming back like this. This is such a compelling experience.” Nearly 40 eights, fours, quads, doubles, and singles formed an upstream procession past the imposing you about yourself. Isn’t that the purpose of a liberal arts Victorian edifice where Parker had occupied a tiny corner college?” office since 1960. Most were amalgams of his varsity A five-minute chat was a filibuster from the man crews, who’d reclaimed their crimson jerseys from attics they called The Sphinx. “If there was a prize for ratio of and basements. But the lightweights were there, too, led influence to words spoken, that’s a horizon job for Harry,” by the 1971 “Superboat,” as well as several Radcliffe boats reckoned Blair Brooks, who captained the unbeaten 1975 and a four from the Winsor School stroked by Parker’s R&S edition. daughter Abigail, who’ll enroll at the college this month. Parker never gave a pep talk. “There was no strangling “It’s a reunion of the tribe,” observed Steve Brooks, who of bulldogs,” said Jim Tew, the 1966 captain. It’s their stroked the Harvard boat at the 1968 Olympics. “We’re activity, Parker would say. If it’s not important to them, I back together.” can’t make it important. They came together, as well, in Sydney and London, His oarsmen were so driven, so competitive that Parker where other Crimson rowers took to the water for a salute. didn’t need to nudge them. As the procession was coming There was a five-ringed reunion as well. Vyacheslav to an end, three of his more recent varsities broke off to race Ivanov, the legendary Soviet sculler who won three gold each other to the bridge. medals in the single and competed against Parker in the Bragging rights at Newell are eternal and his former 1960 Olympic final, flew in from Moscow and paddled out oarsmen still ponder the one answer that Parker took to the in a double with Don Spero, his American rival in 1964. “I grave: Who’s the fairest of us all? “We know the answer,” was invited, and I wanted to honor Harry,” the 75-year-old Fellows said puckishly, pointing to a 1974 flag hanging Ivanov said through a translator. from a crepe-adorned pole next to an enormous “Thank you, Harry” banner. “Why else would Harry put our photo on the wall?” Parker, a ferocious competitor not above hornswoggling his sons at Monopoly, loved hard-core racers, which is why he cherished this year’s unbeaten varsity, which sent him out a winner with a six-length swamping of Yale in the four- miler. He had barely a fortnight to live that weekend but he hadn’t announced his retirement. When the 1980 crew came back for a reunion row, Parker went out on the water with them, orchestrating a race with his daughter stroking the winning boat, and then had lunch. “He said, nice to see you,” Dick Cashin said. “He never said goodbye.” Two days later Parker slipped out of consciousness and CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Photos from the memorial row for Harry Parker on the Charles River was ferried across the Styx, his final river. On Thursday August 17, 2013. Photo courtesy of Athletic Communications. his ashes were scattered at Red Top, his crew’s age-old Jim Dietz, the Northeastern grad who sculled in two training camp on the Thames in New London. On Saturday Games, was back on the river. So was the 1980 Olympic came the final gathering of crimson-hued hundreds at eight that Parker coached. “This is the way it should be,” Newell, from whose bays Parker loved to launch golf balls remarked Ted Nash, who was Parker’s Rome teammate toward Memorial Drive. “How many people could cause and later his coaching rival at Penn. “This is what it’s all something like this to happen?” mused Bob Jaugstetter, the about for all of us.” 1980 Olympic coxswain. “A pope, maybe.” All but a handful of Parker’s 51 captains were present, Gifts in memory of Parker can be directed to Dana-Farber Cancer some of them serving as ushers at the afternoon service Institute at: at Memorial Church in the Yard, where Henley blazers Dana-Farber Cancer Institute were the uniform of the day. “The Mister Chips model, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor where you come back to school 50 years later and he’s still Brookline, MA 02445 teaching, that’s gone away,” said John MacEachern, the Donors should enclose a note stating who the gift is in memory of 1981 captain. and the name of the next of kin. Donations are also accepted online at When his former oarsmen talked about Parker, it http://www.jimmyfund.org/gift or by phone at 617-632-3019. was with equal parts affection, admiration, and awe. Community Rowing Inc., which has its boathouse named in Parker’s “He was like Father Guido Sarducci, who had the five- honor, is also accepting donations in Parker’s name. The organization minute university,” said Dave Fellows, who captained has a giving portal set up through “The Giving Common” at The Boston the unbeaten 1974 Rude & Smooth boat. “Harry taught Foundation. To access the portal, visit https://www.givingcommon.org/ profile/1070765 Kevin Landry, 69 by Jenna Lee Geissler for excellence in all areas. Kevin cared about people and Marketing and Communications Manager, Harvard Varsity Club their success. He was fair, had good judgment and we can count Kevin as one of our all time great alumni.” It is with a heavy heart we report that Kevin Landry ‘66 — John P. Reardon, Jr. ’60 ,Executive Director, Harvard Alumni passed away on August 1st, 2013 after a long battle with Association; Associate Vice President, University Relations lung cancer. He was 69 years old. As a very active member within the Harvard community, enthusiastic supporter of academics and athletics and doting family “I did not know Landry well, but his death, man, Landry will be dearly missed. Landry is as I was preparing to teach my freshman survived by his wife Barrie, and three children; seminar on Amateur Athletics, made me Kim Gwinn Landry ’93 of Wellesley, Jennifer think of how many of the great citizens and Landry Le ’99 of Riverside, Connecticut leaders who have graduated from Harvard Christopher, of New York City. A memorial for in the period, say, from 1950-1975 had family and friends was held on August 15, 2013 strong athletic experiences here. Landry at Memorial Church in Harvard Yard. seems to have been more of a hockey fan at Harvard than a player, though his “Kevin was my second hire and his ability and Middlesex School tribute remembers his self-confidence were immediately apparent... football and basketball experience there....” Kevin was talented, blunt and tenacious, with an —Harry Lewis Professor of Computer Science in Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied intense desire to do well for the company. He also Sciences Kevin Landry and Harvard Athletics blog had a great feel for people and an innate ability post. to determine who could best execute a plan. C. Kevin Landry - TA Associates As I watched Kevin’s abilities carry him to ever Gifts in memory of Kevin Landry can be donated to the greater achievements, and as our professional and personal Landry Cancer Biology Consortium. Checks should be relationship deepened over the years, I truly reveled in made payable to Harvard University, referencing the his success.” —Peter Brooke, Chairman, Advent International Landry Cancer Consortium, and sent to: Corporation, the firm he founded upon leaving TA Associates in 1984. Go to http://www.ta.com/News/CKL-In-Memoriam.aspx for the full article. Recording Secretary Office Harvard University Development “Kevin was a really extraordinary man — bigger than life. 124 Mount Auburn Street Kevin cared deeply about Harvard and what was best for Cambridge, MA 02138 this institution. Kevin was honest, challenging and drove Women’s Rugby Becomes 42nd Varsity Sport at Harvard University Article excerpt courtesy of gocrimson.com Cambridge, Mass. – Continuing its rich history of broad- based educational opportunities through athletics, Harvard University will create a varsity women’s rugby team to begin play in the 2013-14 academic year. Women’s rugby will be the 21st varsity sport for women and 42nd varsity sport overall at Harvard making Harvard the nation’s leader in both areas. Harvard will be the first Ivy League institution to sponsor a varsity rugby program and continues to lead the field with the commitment and sustainability of interest that is its long tradition of supporting athletics for women. This consistent with a varsity level program.” said Scalise. “We tradition began in the 19th century when Radcliffe College, are committed to our mission of providing educational its sister school, offered tennis and basketball teams.