Vale Chris Roarty 

A humble gentle, loving, kind and generous spirit. A pillar of support to all. Chris Roarty, a coach for Loreto Kirribilli passed away recently. He started his rowing as a schoolboy at St Ignatius College in the early 1970s and won the AAGPS Head of the River in 1972 in the Schoolboy 4th Four. 
Chris reunited his passion for rowing later with Loreto Parents Masters Regatta in the late 1990s at Riverview College. He rowed with many of his old schoolmates and was victorious many times.  
 
Chris through encouragement from his old schoolmates took up a coaching role for rowing at Loreto Kirribilli. His enthusiasm and dedication were highly appreciated by the parents and especially the young rowers in building their confidence and adding that special camaraderie you only get with a 5:30 a.m. off-the-dock call. Not only was he there to assist with rowing lessons but also, he was apt in fixing up equipment, leaking tinnies, and outboards refusing to start - whatever was needed he lent a hand. 
 
A true man with and for others he did his work without pay or need for thanks and praise. He had an innovative mind for electronics setting up many coaches to rowing skiff communications. As a past Riverview, Mosman Rower, and Loreto parent myself, I know the Club has many great coaches like Chris but for me and the many he has touched — there is only one Chris who stands head and shoulders as a selfless and caring person — may we pause to give him the praise he deserves. — row on Chris in our hearts.

Written by Rowing NSW Board member Sarah Hill

Family and friends are warmly invited to attend a Celebration of Chris’s Life, to be held Monday 11th of September 2023 at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 17 Mackenzie Street, Lavender Bay at 1.pm. Followed by a burial at Macquarie Park Cemetery on Tuesday 12th September at 11:30am.