Bob Duenkel
1945 – 2019
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of “Bob”. After a long illness Bob moved on peacefully this morning, at home in the arms of his wife, Colette.
As Chikopi Director for 43 years Bob impacted the lives of thousands of young men. A camp director has many roles, one of which is teacher. Bob always told us the reason he put so much time and effort into Chikopi was because he wanted to teach us the value of good citizenship, sportsmanship and friendship. He was certainly successful, and as each of us goes further into our life’s journey we appreciate more the understanding he gave us through Chikopi adventures. But it really goes farther than that. There are so many things we have come to understand simply by watching Bob and how he approached life. Like the importance of humility. Like how one should always look someone in the eye whilst shaking their hand. Like how friendships can hide in the most unlikely places and we should start conversations with everyone. And now that I am a Junior in High School, these lessons are even more valuable to me. So, thank you Dad, once again, for the greatest gift you could have given me, your experiences.
Love, your daughter,
Teagan
Taken from Swimming World and International Swimming Hall of Fame:
Bob had a love of swimming for most of his life. He began swimming for the YMCA of Orange, New Jersey, went on to swim for West Orange High School where in 1960, he was a State Record Holder and New Jersey AAU Junior and Senior Champion. He attended Kansas State University where he achieved many Big Eight records and played on the first ever KSU water polo team. Bob holds the World Record in the 160 yd. IM. After graduating from KSU with both an undergraduate and Masters Degree in Physical Education, Bob moved to Fort Lauderdale. He taught at Northeast High School as a Physical Education Teacher, worked as a water safety instructor and worked for the Fort Lauderdale Beach Patrol. This led to “Buck” Dawson convincing him to work as his assistant at the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1976.
The ISHOF position afforded Bob the opportunity to work exclusively in the field of his passion – swimming. He had time to train as a Masters swimmer in the Hall of Fame Pool and coach swimming at Broward Community College. In 1978 he was named National Junior College Swimming Coach of the Year. In the summer of 1976 Buck offered Bob the position of Swim Coach at Camp Chikopi, the world’s first swimming camp, founded in 1920 by US Olympic swimming coach, Matt Mann II, Dawson’s father-in-law. During summers at Chikopi, Bob trained and prepared the USA National Open Water Team as well as several other International open water swimmers.
Bob’s great contribution to swimming however, was his 40+ years of dedication and service to the International Swimming Hall of Fame. As Buck’s assistant he absorbed the history of swimming like a sponge, not just from Buck, but through the lips of Johnny Weissmuller, Eleanor Holm, Buster Crabbe, Esther Williams and many, many more. His knowledge of swimming history was encyclopedic. He studied and knew about the minutest details about swimming and swimmers, from the ancient Greek swimmer Leander to the most recent inductee; every Olympiad, every event, every time and every stroke. He was museum curator and presided over 40 years of ISHOF Induction ceremonies. From 2004-2005 he served as interim CEO and served as Executive Director until his retirement in 2016. There will never be another person more knowledgeable about every aspect of aquatics than Bob.
“Bob was a dear friend, co-worker and undoubtedly the ‘Heart and Soul of the Hall of Fame,’” says Laurie Marchwinski, ISHOF COO. “On behalf of all the ISHOF staff, it was an honor and privilege to work with Bob. He leaves behind a legacy that will always be remembered.”
“Beyond his contribution of preserving swimming history for future generations,” says Bruce Wigo, ISHOF’s past CEO, “Bob was the most unselfish caring person in the world I will forever be indebted to him for sharing his passion for swimming history.”
“When I go through life and think about what the nicest person in the world would do,” says long time friend Tom Giovine, founder of Giovine Capital Management, “I think of Bob Duenkel.”
“I’ll always remember Bob as somebody who really cared about people,” says 1980 Olympian and World Record holder Craig Beardsley.
In 1988 Bob coached the US team to the FINA Long Distance Cup Championships. In 1997 he was named in Aquatic’s International Magazine as a “Who’s Who in Aquatics. Also in 1997, Bob received the Glen S. Hummer Award, given by USA swimming to the person or group making the greatest contribution to long distance swimming. In 1998 he was elected Treasurer of the Association of Sports Museums and Halls of Fames (now ISHA). In 1999 he was inducted into the West Orange, New Jersey Athletics Hall of Fame, along with his brother, Dick, for his football achievements, and sister, Ginny, who won the Gold medal in the 400 meter freestyle and bronze in the 100 meter backstroke, at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Every summer since 1976 Bob has been a role model and mentor to thousands of young boys who have attended his summer camp in Ontario Canada, Camp Chikopi.
Bob is survived by his wife Colette, daughter Teagan, of Fort Lauderdale, sister Ginny Fuldner and brother, Richard Duenkel.
Bob is scheduled to be inducted into the International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame in March 2019.
Forever in our hearts, please join us to celebrate Bob's life.
Friday, 29th March 2019
https://www.campchikopi.com/forms-credit_card
There will be a “Bob” day celebration at Chikopi in the summer of 2019 – date to be announced
