Ted Garhart, undefeated UW crew legend, dies at 80

Ted Garhart, a legendary stroke on the University of Washington crew, died yesterday at his home in Green Valley, Ariz., after a seven-month battle with cancer. He was 80.

He was the stroke for the 1940 and 1941 crews that won the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Regatta, coached by Al Ulbrickson.

"He never lost a race in the stroke seat at Washington," said Dick Erickson, the Husky crew coach from 1967-88. "That has not happened before or since. Afterward, he was a very loyal Husky fan."

World War II interrupted crew and Garhart joined the Marine Corps, reaching the rank of colonel.

Garhart, a member of the Husky Hall of Fame, worked for Prudential Life Insurance and entered the field of international finance before retiring to Arizona 10 years ago.

Born in Seattle, he recently returned to the area to attend a family reunion in Leavenworth that drew 80 family members.

There will be no memorial service, as was his wish.

Surivors include his wife Marrion of Green Valley; daughters Nanncy Golden of New Jersey and Carroll Whelen of Silver City, Nev.; sisters Nannette Tallman of Kirkland and Virginia Peterson of Peterborough, N.H.; brother William Garhart of Bothell; and three grandchildren.