Chuck Alm, Member Of Legendary '58 Crew, Passes Away At 87
February 24, 2025 | Men's Rowing
Charles (Chuck) Alm, a member of Washington's legendary 1958 men's varsity eight crew, passed away on Jan. 16, 2025, at the age of 87.
Alm, born March 27, 1937, was the four seat of the Washington crew that beat the Soviet National Team in Moscow, in 1958, shortly after the Soviets, racing as Leningrad Trud Club, had bested the Huskies at the Henley Royal Regatta, the UW's first trip to that event. After the Henley loss, the Huskies and Soviets arranged a re-match in Moscow, where the UW crew was victorious in the first-ever sporting event broadcast live to the U.S. from behind the Iron Curtain.
That entire crew was inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame in 1984.
"Chuck was a giant amongst us and inspired generations of Husky oarsmen and coaches," said UW men's head coach Michael Callahan '96. "I was recently reminiscing about our trip to Moscow in 2008 when we visited to commemorate the 1958 race. It was delightful for me to get to know him on that trip and I will always think of him as a friend. His words of support over the years were always appreciated and meant a lot to me."
Alm went on to compete for the United States at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, rowing in the coxed four.
Following his college and international rowing career, Alm remained deeply involved with the UW and the Seattle area throughout his life, serving as executive director (and later, president) of the UW Alumni Association, president of the Washington Athletic Club (and president of the WAC's 101 Club), Prime Minister of Seafair, president of Northwest Forum, and on the board of directors of King County Medical Blue Shield. He was also very active in the Seattle Rotary Club.
Professionally, Alm served as vice president of Olympic Stain Company in Seattle, and also worked in the hotel business.
He and wife Kristie were married for 63 years and had three children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Alm, born March 27, 1937, was the four seat of the Washington crew that beat the Soviet National Team in Moscow, in 1958, shortly after the Soviets, racing as Leningrad Trud Club, had bested the Huskies at the Henley Royal Regatta, the UW's first trip to that event. After the Henley loss, the Huskies and Soviets arranged a re-match in Moscow, where the UW crew was victorious in the first-ever sporting event broadcast live to the U.S. from behind the Iron Curtain.
That entire crew was inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame in 1984.
"Chuck was a giant amongst us and inspired generations of Husky oarsmen and coaches," said UW men's head coach Michael Callahan '96. "I was recently reminiscing about our trip to Moscow in 2008 when we visited to commemorate the 1958 race. It was delightful for me to get to know him on that trip and I will always think of him as a friend. His words of support over the years were always appreciated and meant a lot to me."
Alm went on to compete for the United States at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, rowing in the coxed four.
Following his college and international rowing career, Alm remained deeply involved with the UW and the Seattle area throughout his life, serving as executive director (and later, president) of the UW Alumni Association, president of the Washington Athletic Club (and president of the WAC's 101 Club), Prime Minister of Seafair, president of Northwest Forum, and on the board of directors of King County Medical Blue Shield. He was also very active in the Seattle Rotary Club.
Professionally, Alm served as vice president of Olympic Stain Company in Seattle, and also worked in the hotel business.
He and wife Kristie were married for 63 years and had three children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
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