HOPE — Megunticook Rowing held a ceremony Friday, Oct. 15 at Bishopswood Camp in Hope to name a new boat for long time friend, volunteer extraordinaire, board member, and supporter Rob Short.

Over the last 13 years, Short has worked tirelessly, according to a news release, to keep Megunticook Rowing afloat, fixing trailer tires, felling trees, ensuring fiscal responsibility and most recently, helping to recruit the organization’s first Executive Director, former Olympic gold medalist, Anna Goodale.

Short’s interest in the sport of rowing began 23 years ago when his 12 year old daughter started to row in Oklahoma City with a fledgling club, the Oklahoma Association for Rowing (OAR).

Like many parents of junior rowers, he had no time to row himself until his daughter went off to college.

For several years he rowed in a Masters 8+ with OAR and enjoyed competing with that crew.

When he and his wife, Jeanne, moved to Lincolnville in 2008, Rob Short met Ry Hills. Hills, a former national rowing champion and collegiate rowing coach, was organizing a new high school rowing program which became Megunticook Rowing.

Short joined a small, but dedicated all-volunteer group who worked to bring Hills' vision of an all-inclusive rowing program to Midcoast Maine.

Short joined the board of the non-profit organization in 2010, and served as president of the board from 2016 through 2018. The boat named in Rob's honor is a Vespoli 8+, a boat designed for eight sweep rowers (each rower has a single oar) and a coxswain.

Purchase of this boat was made possible by the generosity of middle school rowing coach Bob Perkins, and masters rower Eric Buck.