Allen Rosenberg

On Dec. 7, Allen Rosenberg, 82, of Silver Spring. Rosenberg was an influential and innovative rowing coach who led the eight-man U.S. team to a gold medal at the 1964 Olympic Games. The Washington Post reports that in the 1960s and ‘70s, he was known as the “genius on the water,” for revitalizing U.S. programming and introducing new, eclectic training techniques such as tai chi and weight training. Rosenberg himself was part of national rowing championship team in the 1950s, and began his competitive coaching career in the early 1960s. Two years after coaching the U.S. team to gold, Rosenberg left his coaching position and moved to Rochester, N.Y., where he worked as a lawyer. But, in 1974, he decided he wasn’t fully retired from coaching, and led the U.S. eight-man team to a world championship win that same year. His successful run ended at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, when the U.S. team finished ninth. In 1977, Rosenberg moved to D.C. to work as a lawyer for the Navy Department. He was the beloved husband of Lisbeth Sklar; devoted father of Sarah, Rabbi Daniel, Rebecca (Stephanie Gaudreau), Dr. Miriam (Ori Berger), Dr. Tziporah (Albert Piterman) and Isaac Rosenberg; dear brother of Arnold (Rochelle), Stanley and the late Dr. Jack (surviving wife, Sylvia) Rosenberg; stepfather of Dr. Joshua (Rachel) Cohen; loving grandfather of Roen, Eli, Maya and Sophia; and step-grandfather of Leah and Avram. Graveside funeral services were held Dec. 11. Memorial contributions may be made to any organization that supports dementia research.