Drexel University Athletics
Drexel Rowing and Drexel Athletics Mourn the Loss of Lela Kerr
2/15/2018 12:00:00 PM | Men's Rowing, Women's Rowing
PHILADELPHIA – Drexel Rowing and Drexel Athletics mourn the loss of Lela H. Kerr, who passed away on Jan. 25 at the age of 99. Kerr was the wife of the late Dr. Thomas Kerr, who founded the Drexel Rowing program in 1957.
The Kerr family is the namesake of the annual Kerr Cup Regatta hosted by Drexel Rowing on the Schuylkill River. The winner of the women's varsity eight race receives the Lela H. Kerr Cup, while the men's varsity eight winner receives the Dr. Thomas Kerr Cup. Each year, members of the Kerr family make the trip to the regatta to hand out the medals and trophies. The program will host the 52nd Kerr Cup Regatta on April 14, 2018.
"Drexel Rowing stands on the shoulders of Lela and Doc Kerr," Director of Athletics Dr. Eric Zillmer said. "The two of them had a vision that rowing was not only a quintessential Philadelphia sport, but would be something in which Drexel should get seriously involved. I take gratitude in the fact that they would be very proud of our rowing programs – not only the national rankings, Dad Vail trophies and the Henley championship, but the young men and women champions and leaders this program continues to develop."
"Our team owes everything, our entire existence, to the Kerrs," Director of Rowing Paul Savell said. "They started this program and set us up for where we are today. The way the family continues coming back to the Kerr Cup each year makes the event that much more special. There's nothing like coming across the finish line and heading to the grandstand to get your medal from Mrs. Kerr and the family."
Kerr received her degree in nursing from Syracuse University where she met and later married her late husband. She is survived by Susan Taylor, Ned Kerr and David Kerr as well as eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held March 3 at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Flourtown, Pa. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in her remembrance to the church, St. Jude's Hospital or the Drexel men's and women's rowing teams.
In the book Building Drexel: The University and its City published in early 2017 to commemorate Drexel's 125th anniversary, Zillmer wrote of Lela and Dr. Thomas Kerr in a chapter on the history of athletics at the school:
Drexel rowing's longevity rests on the shoulders of many excellent coaches, none more worthy of mention than Thomas "Doc" Kerr, the first rowing coach for Drexel. According to alum Ron Madden, Boathouse Row folklore is that "Doc" purchased an old eight-oar shell needing much work and brought it to his backyard in East Falls where he restored it himself. Then being a Button member (an upriver dinner club), with ties along Boathouse Row, he had eight Boathouse Row clubs donate one oar apiece and presto, Drexel rowing was born! Doc was a surgeon at Presbyterian Hospital and also the team doctor for Drexel's athletic programs, which gave him access to Drexel students to fill an eight-oared shell. Doc was succeeded by Joseph Greipp, the freshman coach in spring of 1968 who became head coach in 1969 when Doc retired. Dan Edwards, who coached and founded the women's program in 1987, Stephen Orova, Mike McKenna, Lou Renzulli, and current head coach Paul Savell all followed Doc Kerr.
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