The Beginning

By Dr. Howard Levenson, Founding Member

As the person who had the original idea to bring recreational and competitive rowing to Marin, and a founding member of the Marin Rowing Association, I am happy to continue my association with the MRA.

I originally approached Bob Cumming after seeing an article in the Marin IJ about his coaching the Dominican College (now University) Women’s Crew at Lake Merritt in Oakland. He was a patient of mine, and I had no idea that he was an oarsman (sculler). After talking to him about my experience at Cal, I suggested I go over to Berkeley and talk to the Crew Coach to see if I could get a list of alumni oarsman living in Marin County. The file had many names, and I sent out postcards inviting them to meet to discuss the possibility of rowing on weekends. Bob offered to be the coach. Cal offered to lend us two 8+ oared shells with oars.

The first meeting had over 60 attendees from varies universities including: Yale, Harvard, Stanford, and of course Cal. They were all very interested in rowing again. Bob made arrangements to use an old unused storage shed at McNears Brick Yard Landing which is now the McNears Park in San Rafael.

Finding the open water of San Pablo Bay difficult, Bob eventually found a place on the Corte Madera Creek on the east side of the railroad bridge crossing where the water was more friendly for rowers. He got the old telephone poles delivered, and a crew of oarsman set the pier pilings by hand, and built the docks and shed to store the shells.

Eventually, we started to think about how to get the youth involved, and Redwood High was approached. Originally, I had thought San Rafael High School and the San Rafael canal would be a good place for rowing, but the school wasn’t interested, and the canal had too much boat traffic for rowing crews to navigate safely. Bob was the point man, and did most of the negotiating and all the coaching. He was a one-man show, doing whatever it took to make sure rowing was an integral part of Marin sports.

There are very few people that know the beginning history of the MRA. It hasn’t been recorded as far as I know. I no longer row, but the spirit to enjoy seeing others enjoy the sport is wonderful. Thanks for helping to make rowing such an important sport for Marin County and the Country.