American Olympic rower (1923–1999)
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
Perew was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania .[1] [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] U.S. Navy .[1] 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
Perew began rowing while in high school at Buffalo's West Side Rowing Club .[1] [1]
While still in college, he was on the U.S. team at the 1948 Olympics .[2] Gregory Gates , Stuart Griffing , and Frederick Kingsbury .[1] [3] [4]
Career
Perew worked for General Electric and Electric Boat .[4] York International , retiring in 1989.[1]
He also served in the Navy Reserve until 1989, achieving the rank of lieutenant commander.[1]
Personal life
He lived near Long Island Sound in Waterford, Connecticut for over forty years.[2] [1]
He was a member of the Yale-Harvard Regatta Committee for many years.[2] Retired Officers Association , Veterans of Foreign Wars , and the U.S. Olympic Alumni Association.[1] St. James Episcopal Church in New London, Connecticut .[1]
In 1999, he died in Denton, Texas , where he lived from 1996 to 1999.[4]
