Fred l emerson biography

Fred L. Emerson Jr. of Lyme, an avid rower who founded and financed crew programs at more than 60 high schools, colleges and private clubs throughout the nation, died Monday in New London.

He was 81.

In Connecticut, Mr. Emerson launched rowing programs at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Connecticut College in New London, and he donated equipment and financial support to crew teams at Trinity College in Hartford and Wesleyan University in Middletown.

Almost every regatta in the Northeast at the high school and college level has at least one trophy bearing his name, and the annual crew race between Trinity and Coast Guard is named the Emerson Cup.

On the underside of a bridge at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, site of many college and high school races, there is a message visible only to only the rowers who pass beneath it: “Fred Emerson is the patron saint of crew.” Mr.

Emerson helped high school rowing programs in East Lyme, Old Lyme and Deep River, and he supported p