The newest member of the St. Joe’s crew popped a bottle of champagne to celebrate his first visit to the West Side Rowing Club.
Dressed in a button-down shirt and tie for the 35th Charles Fontana All High Regatta , restaurateur and philanthropist Russell J. Salvatore appreciated the view of Black Rock Channel on a sunny Memorial Day. But he kept his distance from the water.
“I know nothing about rowing or boating,” Salvatore said. “I don’t like water. I can’t swim. I just love doing things that can make people happy.”
Salvatore was recognized at the regatta for donating money to purchase a new silver and maroon eight-man boat for the Marauders team.
“We were thrilled and completely shocked when he was willing to fund the entire thing,” St. Joe’s coach Tom Heubusch said.
St. Joe’s principal Jim Spellman presented Salvatore with a plaque naming him an honorary member of the Marauders rowing team, and Salvatore christened the boat by pouring champagne on its nose.
Salvatore had no prior connection to the St. Joe’s crew team but was impressed by a presentation from seniors Garrett Zito and Evan Benz, who both have relatives with whom Salvatore is friendly.
“I very seldom say no to anything if I can do it,” Salvatore said. “But this was a little special. These boys came to see me. They were clean-shaven, in shirts and ties, no earrings. So professional and mature. It took me 20 seconds to say, ‘you’ve got the money.’ I gave them a check immediately. And I can’t believe how many hearts it has touched.”
#PrepTalkLive Russell Salvatore named honorary member of @SJCIAthletics rowing team after donating a new boat to the Marauders pic.twitter.com/RrdethTWoB
— Jonah Bronstein (@lebronstein) May 27, 2019
The boat, manufactured by Hudson Boat Works in London, Ont., will be housed at the West Side Rowing Club, which covered 20 percent of the $45,000 purchase and insurance. Club members will be able to use the boat during the summer.
“It’s primarily a St. Joe’s boat but it will benefit the West Side Rowing Club as well,” club president Ted Marks said. “It’s an asset for the club, through the generosity of St. Joe’s and Russell Salvatore.”
Rising participation in rowing at St. Joe’s and technological advances in boat manufacturing created a need for the Marauders to add to their fleet, Heubusch said.
“We have a growing team, 40 guys this year. And historically we haven’t had that many,” Heubusch said. “Equipment gets damaged and on the national scene, technology is getting nicer. The good teams are rowing with the best equipment possible. In order to say we take this real seriously at St. Joe’s, we needed to have the nicest boat.”
“It’s much smoother,” St. Joe’s junior David Crooks said. “In an old boat, you can feel rickety, like riding an old rollercoaster. These new ones, you get right in a smooth rhythm.”
The West Side Rowing Club also unveiled a memorial to eight members of the club who died serving in World Wars I and II.
The memorial is displayed on a rock from the club’s former site across Black Rock Channel that was destroyed by fire in 1973. The names on the plaque are: George E. Martin, William B. Schmidt, Robert W. Hurley, Adolph W. Guniewicz, Roy M. Slaper, William I Dellapenta, Robert P. Richards, and Eugene F. Fawls.
#PrepTalkLive from Fontana All High Regatta @WestSideGuy1912 pic.twitter.com/NYO58G8ZoV
— Jonah Bronstein (@lebronstein) May 27, 2019
“The regatta is held every year on Memorial Day,” Marks said. “So we do take a moment to recognize members of the rowing club that have performed in the armed services and those who lost their lives in performing that duty are named here.”
National Guard members, Rep. Brian Higgins, and State Sen. Tim Kennedy attended the memorial ceremony held during a break in the regatta.
“The West Side Rowing Club figured out waterfront development over 100 years ago,” Higgins quipped. “The rest of us are just catching up.”
Canisius, Nardin rule in All High Regatta
Story topics: All High Regatta / rowing / Russell J. Salvatore / St. Joe's
