Princeton Weekly Bulletin June 8, 1998
$4 million to renovate boathouse
A gift of $4 million from Irene Shea of Pittsburgh, Pa., will be used to expand and renovate the landmark boathouse and crew facilities on the banks of Carnegie Lake, creating the C. Bernard Shea Rowing Center in honor of Mrs. Shea's late husband, a member of the Class of 1916.
The new Shea Rowing Center will include state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, such as a new rowing tank, larger locker and shower rooms, better heat and ventilation systems, and improved handicap access, as well as offices and weight training areas. Additional launches, dockage and boat racks also will be installed.
''We are deeply grateful to Mrs. Shea for this generous gift,'' said President Shapiro. ''Bernard Shea was himself an enthusiastic oarsman at Princeton, and generations of Princeton rowers will remember him and benefit from this tribute to his memory.''
When boating sports began at Princeton, the team practiced on the nearby Delaware and Raritan Canal -- a difficult process since the canal still had a steady stream of commercial traffic. It was not until 1906 that Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of a dam, creating what is now Carnegie Lake. Having the lake for both practices and competitions greatly strengthened the University's rowing program, which grew continuously in strength and variety. Lightweight crew was introduced in 1922; women came on board in 1972; and women's lightweight crew was added in the fall of 1997.
Highly successful crews
Through the years, Princeton's crew has been highly successful, with each team winning at least one national championship in the past three years.
The men's heavyweight and lightweight crew won national championships this year. The heavyweight crew also won the Eastern Sprints in 1995 and 1997, as well as the national championship in 1996. In women's crew, the lightweight team is the reigning Eastern Sprints and overall champions, while the open team is ranked first in the region.
''I have wonderful memories of returning to campus with my husband in the 1950s to watch the crew races,'' said Mrs. Shea, ''and it is especially meaningful to me to help the many students who love rowing and Princeton, just as my husband did.''
Shea, who died in 1961, served with the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps during World War I and was vice president and director of the Joseph Horne Co. of Pittsburgh. A member of the University's Graduate Council, he was a director and trustee of many charitable institutions, including Shadyside Hospital of Pittsburgh and the Fairview Hospital of Great Barrington, Mass.