Robert Perew

Who was Robert Perew?

Robert "Bob" Strahan Perew was an American oarsman who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.

He was born in Philadelphia, PA and died in Denton, TX. His mother was Bernice Perew and his father was Robert Jackman Perew. His paternal grandfather was Captain Frank Perew, owner of a fleet of cargo ships on the Great Lakes during the mid - latter 19th Century.

Robert lived in Buffalo, NY and West Palm Beach, FL during his youth. He graduated from Lafayette High School, NY in 1941, then attended Yale University where obtained a degree in mechanical engineering. Midway through his college career he served in the U.S. Navy. Perew was commissioned as the communications officer on the submarine the USS Thornback. After serving in the Pacific during WWII, he returned to Yale where he graduated as part of the class 45W in 1949.

He began rowing at Buffalo's historic West Side Rowing Club while still in high school. During college he was on the Yale crew and also on the U.S. team Rowing at the 1948 Summer Olympics. His event, the Men's Coxless Fours, took the bronze medal for their race.