Class News

Ed Trippe ’64 organizing a tribute to Bill Fink ’64 on the Thames

March 12, 2022

In March, Ed Trippe emailed: “Bill Fink died in the Fall of 2020 in a tragic house fire at his home in California. At Yale Bill was a stalwart member of the Yale crew and rowed on the Varsity for three years. After Yale, Bill attended Oxford where he continued his illustrious rowing career, initially in the undefeated Oxford 1965 crew along with fellow Yale oarsmen Ed Trippe, Harry Howell, and Duncan Spencer. In later years, Bill continued to row for Oxford in veteran boats, the last time in Rome in 2019.” Bill was a starboard oarsman and rowed #5 or #7 in most crews. In our Henley winning four he was #3 behind the stroke.

“Last year a group of Oxford alumni who rowed after Bill and knew his reputation as an enthusiastic oarsman decided to recognize Bill and honor his legacy with a shell. On Saturday, April 2, many of Bill’s friends from Yale and Oxford will gather at the Oxford boathouse on the Thames in London, initially to watch the Oxford crew practice in their new boat, then to pour the bubbly on her bow and name her the ‘Bill Fink.’ Oxford rows against Cambridge on the Thames in London on Sunday, April 3. The London bookmakers have the Bill Fink as a slight favorite.”

Blaine Krickl replied: “I will put out an email to the London group advising of the event Ed described. Having rowed for a bit of my time at Yale and known Bill, I will make an effort to attend. From what Ed wrote, I sense not too many Yale folk will be on hand. Jim Rogers, for instance, lives in Singapore and would be a natural to pay his respects.”

Ed Trippe added: “Good to connect with you, Blaine. The ‘naming’ will actually be a rather short affair. We are meeting down at the Embankment at ‘Boathouse Row’ at 8:30 Saturday morning, April 2. Four of us who rowed with Bill are going out on the Oxford launch to watch the morning practice. Should be back by 10:00am. Before putting the boat away, we’ll have the ‘naming’ event. One or two of us will speak and wish the Blue Boat well. Not much more, so may not be an event that can rally much interest unless it’s a beautiful spring day on the banks of the Thames.”

The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and is typically held along a 4.2-mile (6.8 km) tidal stretch of the River Thames in southwest London. The world-famous sporting event between the UK’s two historic universities — Oxford and Cambridge — spans 185 years of rivalry and the Race has become synonymous with British tradition and excellence. The Race has established itself as the epitome of amateur sport, raced by scholar athletes who combine academic rigor with elite physical prowess. There is no greater occasion.

Ed Trippe continued: “In 1965 we won the Prince Phillip Cup, beating the British Olympic crew in the finals. The four were Bill Fink, Harry Howell, Duncan Spencer (Captain Y ‘62 crew), and me. Our year at Oxford was outstanding on many levels! We went back to Henley for our 25th reunion in 1990 and the Henley Stewards let us re-enter the Prince Phillip Cup. We actually trained for it, so we could get over the course. Paul McAlenney was our cox.

There were three other crews entered: the British Olympic crew, the Polish national champion, and the German Olympic champion. We drew the Germans and they were outstanding. They took a length on us on the first 10 strokes, lowered their pace to about 18 and never opened up their lead. The Henley crowds actually thought we were in the race. We went back for our 50th and made it over the course. Paul McAlenney was with us again. We had some great times with Bill. He was an amazing competitor.”

Jim Rogers emailed: “Thanks! What time on the 2nd? I am actually going to the Boat Race this year so would love to attend. I donated a boat to Yale in Bill’s name.”

Blaine Krickl replied: “This week there has been a flurry of email activity triggered by this message from Ed Trippe regarding our late classmate Bill Fink, and the naming and dedicating of a shell in his name by the Oxford University Boat Club on Saturday, April 2. The ceremony will take place on the Tideway at Putney, sometime mid-morning (10-ish) after Oxford's Blue Boat has its first row of the day in preparation for the Boat Race on Sunday. I understand that Ed and some other Yale fellows who rowed with Bill will be on hand as well as a number of Oxford people as well. The ceremony will be short but wholly worthy of the memory of a classmate who gave and achieved a great deal in his lifetime and who died tragically in the California wildfires two years since. I intend to be there in Putney, not only to honor Bill but to reconnect, albeit in solemn circumstances, with classmates and friends.”

Note: We will post a full account of this event in early April.