In Memory: Bill Kalenius

Bill Kalenius, the founder and president of the Vancouver Lake Crew rowing club, died on Wednesday after a six-year battle with colon cancer. He was 57.

Kalenius discovered his passion for rowing at Western Washington University in the early 1970s. He rowed two years for the Vikings and graduated from WWU in 1974 with a bachelor of arts degree in accounting before going on to coach at the University of Puget Sound. He helped found the Olympia Area Rowing Association and was involved with rowing clubs around Puget Sound.

An accountant with a lumber company, Kalenius moved his family to the Portland area in 1987 and was active in expanding several clubs along the Willamette River. The desire to share his passion for rowing motivated Kalenius to form the Vancouver Lake Crew in February of 2002. He remained the club’s president and head coach until this summer. In 2007, he was voted one of the Top 10 "Most Caring" coaches by USA Today.

As a competitor, his successes included winning the four consecutive lightweight doubles championships with partner Roger Payne at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta from 1980-1983. Kalenius also won a Canadian national championship in lightweight singles. He and Payne also were frequent winners at regional regattas.

When the Vancouver Lake Crew suffered significant tornado damage in January of 2008, Kalenius called on his ties within the rowing community to save the club. Since the founding of Vancouver Lake Crew, Kalenius worked to try to find a place where the club could establish a long-term home instead of relying on a year-to-year lease. That dream came true this summer when the Vancouver Lake Crew moved to a new home just south of Vancouver Lake Park.

Kalenius is survived by his parents, his wife of 35 years Mary Kay, daughter Kara Novak, and son Will Kalenius III. The family requests that memorial donations be made to Vancouver Lake Crew, 8612 N.W. Erwin O. Rieger Memorial Highway, Vancouver, Wash. 98660.

A memorial Mass is planned for 1 p.m. on Oct. 3 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Vancouver. A public reception will follow. That morning, Vancouver Lake Crew rowers will participate in the annual Head of the Dog Regatta on the Willamette River.

USRowing is a nonprofit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. USRowing’s Official Suppliers are Hudson Boat Works and Boathouse Sports; its Official Patron is Concept2; its Official Electronics Outfitter is Nielsen Kellerman; its Official Timer is Powerhouse Timing; and its Preferred Printer is Sport Graphics Printing. USRowing also receives generous support from the National Rowing Foundation.