Established 2000
Charley Osborn began his rowing career at Brooks, '73 and Princeton, '77
and brought his abundant enthusiasm to Riverside in 1982. He served as Vice-
President of the Club from 1987 to 1992. From 1992 to 1995, as a Trustee, he
led the club through the strategic challenge of financial independence as
Northeastern University Crew moved out to its new quarters up river.
Charley loved Riverside. He spent countless hours here out of his love of
the people and the sport and to escape from the pressure of completing his
doctorate at Harvard. Unusual for married couples, Lynn and Charley rowed
and raced a double. As Charley stood six foot six and Lynn five foot eight,
their boat required creative rigging, but with Linda Muri's help, they
engineered the double (a wedding present from Charley's parents) to suit.
Lynn enjoyed being pushed around the river by this big guy with a twelve foot
stroke. Hard to imagine today, but in 1983, they were handed a last minute
entry in the men's open double at the Head of the Charles and proudly
finished in the top half of the fleet. With Bob Cutler's encouragement they
raced and won the mixed double event in the Head of the Schuylkill in 1988.
Charley was 33.
At the age of 42, Charley was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and after four valiant years of steady
atrophy, he died in 2001.
In Charley's honor, Riverside established the Osborn Scholarship to be
awarded annually to a member of Riverside who demonstrates qualities that
most resemble those of Charley - i.e., a commitment to the club through
volunteer service; pride of membership; and good sportsmanship. The
scholarship covers one year of membership dues.
For more information contact vp@riversideboatclub.comApplications should be no more than one page and submitted electronically by February 20.