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, two All American titles 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, Coached at Broward Community College 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, Dawson’s father-in-law. During summers at Chikopi, Bob trained and prepared the USA National Open Water Team.
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.
Bob continued his summers at Camp Chikopi, where he spent 43 summers coaching and inspiring thousands of young men to be better, stronger, and more resilient than they ever thought they could be.
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, 4pm, St. Coleman's Church, Pompano Beach, FL, and 6pm, at The Beach at Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, followed by 7pm, International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum.
In lieu of flowers please donate to Bob’s Charity, The Chikopi Foundation.
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