Last Living Founding Member Of Sagamore Rowing Association Dies

OYSTER BAY, NY — Gunther Uthgenannt — the last living founding member of Oyster Bay's Sagamore Rowing Association — has died at age 92.

His death was confirmed by the association on Wednesday.

"Many club members learned to row in crew boats with Gunther, listening to the 'metronome' of his stroke," the association said. "He will be sorely missed."

At his father's urging, Uthgenannt started rowing in 1945. The father-son duo rowed on the Hudson River with Biking Boathouse, which was founded in the early 1800s, according to a statement released by Sagamore.

Uthgenannt only stopped rowing last summer.

Sagamore Rowing Association was founded in 1958 as the Oyster Bay Rowing Association by Uthgenannt, his father, and a number of other men. In 1972, the club was renamed Sagamore Rowing Association and became a nonprofit. Since then, Sagamore says it has trained thousands of rowers, including Olympians, medalists, and recreational rowers.

"Oyster Bay is a beautiful protected body of water. Rowing on it is magical," the association said. "A rower becomes part of the natural habitat. Rowing has been for centuries, and forever will be, a sport that is one with the environment."