Women's Rowing | October 16, 2014

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PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle rowing program is proud to announce the addition of the Joseph D. McNamara '56 boat to its lineup of racing shells, which was made official last weekend with the christening of the boat prior to the Navy Day Regatta on the Schuylkill River. The purchase of the boat was made possible by a planned gift bequest from alumnus Joseph D. McNamara, who passed away in August, 2013.
 
The boat was named in honor of McNamara, a 1956 graduate of La Salle and staunch supporter of Explorer athletics and the St. Alphonsus parish community. McNamara was a proud father of seven and grandfather to 19, including some who followed in his footsteps to La Salle University. Though not a rower himself, he loved following the sport throughout his lifetime as his son Tim and several grandchildren rowed at both La Salle College High School and Mount St. Joseph Academy.
 
The christening was a special day with friends and family of the La Salle rowing program. Approximately 25 members of the McNamara family were in attendance at the christening on Saturday, and know that it would have meant so much to him to have a boat dedicated to him. Head Coach Tom Madden and Athletic Director Dr. Tom Brennan greeted attendees in the boathouse, followed by a blessing by Br. Ed Hofmann. Everyone made their way outside to the dock and surrounded the boat, where Br. Ed blessed it with water from the Schuylkill River.
 
McNamara's wife, Mary Jo, then blessed the boat with water brought from the Sea Isle bay, a spot that is held dear by the McNamara family. Other members of the family took turns blessing the boat as well with water from the Schuylkill River as well as with sparkling cider.
 
The boat itself is a top-of-the-line Vespoli V1 eight-man shell with wing riggers. It will be primarily used by the women's varsity eight, who captured a win in its first race at Penn State two weeks ago.