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In Memoriam
Anderton L. “Pete” Bentley, Jr., one of our own, died July 7th while rowing on the Maumee River. From his first days of rowing at Yale University in 1947, to his bringing home the Gold Medal at the World Masters Championships in Zagreb, Croatia in September of 2007, Pete devoted his life to the sport of rowing. Our thoughts and support go out to his wife Carol and family. He will be missed greatly.
As best we can piece the events together, Pete signed out in the Boathouse log at 6:15 AM. It was a "Rower's Morning", no wind, flat water, temperature in the low 60's, sun coming up and burning off the faintest haze. Pete apparently had finished his row, about an hour, probably pushing himself as he always did in life and competition, for he was in training for both the Nationals and an International event later this year. Sometime around 7:40 AM his body was seen floating near the rowing dock and his shell against the rocks east of the dock. It was the opinion of the the Chief inspector for the Coroner's Office that Pete's death was due to a stroke or a heart attack, and although an autopsy was performed, we must await the results of the toxology test for final determination.
Pete was remembered by family and friends at a memorial service on Friday afternoon at Carranor Hunt and Polo Club in Perrysburg. After the formal service, his wife, Carol, and his family, Andy, Pamela, and Kate invited some 240 guests to join them for refreshments and light supper, and a "town meeting" as Kate called it, with an open mike so guests could continue the celebration of Pete's life with stories and remembrances. It was a lively crowd, and the stories were uplifting as they painted a delightful picture of Pete, his many accomplishments, and his life.
Chairman of the Toledo Rowing Foundation, George LeBoutillier, close personal friend of Pete's and his family, announced that the family had agreed to join with Toledo Rowing in establishing a scholarship fund and name it after Pete. The Toledo Rowing/Anderton L. Bentley, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, which will be managed by The Toledo Community Foundation, is being created to provide partial funding of college tuition for a qualified Toledo Rower. All memorials received by the Foundation in memory of Pete are earmarked for the Fund, and any wishing to make a contribution may do so to The Toledo Rowing Foundation, P. O. Box 351284, Toledo, Oh 45635-1284.
On Saturday morning, Pete was remembered by his fellow rowers in a row by at TRC. Carol, not to be deterred by wind and a driving rain, christened his shell the Anderton L. "Pete" Bentley, Jr.and donated it and his oars to Toledo Rowing. It sits in Pete's rack awaiting use by qualified scullers. Lightening delayed the row by, and Mayor Finkbeiner took advantage of the stand down to present a Proclamation from the City of Toledo and speak directly to the youthful rowers encouraging them to use Pete's life and accomplishments as examples in how to conduct their own lives. When the rain stopped, the high school teams, including some alumni rowers, manned three eights, and the Masters another, for the row by. First came the three high school eights at full press as we watched from the knoll. Pete loved the "clunk clunk" of the eights. Then came the Masters Rowers, Greg Prince, Former TRC President Jeff Helmick, John Hatcher, Norm Rehm, and Sheila Ng all of whom had raced with Pete, plus Sandy Earl, Pete's partner when he paddled a Dragon Boat, and Mary Lynn Reynolds, a fellow TRF Trustee with Pete. Number five seat was left unoccupied as a memorial to Pete who rowed number five with TRC crews. It was a moving and fitting remembrance of Pete, one of the founders of the club, a long time supporter and outstanding representative of our club. Pete proudly rowed under TRC colors in his many competitions.
Anderton L. "Pete" Bentley, Jr. will be remembered by many, and while unknown to some current members and no doubt the future ones, his Memorial Scholarship Fund will continue his support of Toledo Rowing and its youth.
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