In Memory of Børge Kaas-Andersen

On December 16, 2019, our rowing community lost one of the pillars of the sport and especially of Umpiring.  Børge Kaas-Andersen of Denmark (Umpire License 415), passed away with his family present at his home.

Born April 26, 1937, Kaas-Andersen competed for Denmark in the coxless 4- in the 1960 Rome Olympic Games.  Børge remained committed to both rowing and sport for the remainder of his life.  He served as the first Chair of the FISA Umpiring, a position that he held for 10 years.  Børge created the model for how the Umpiring Commission is run today.  Under his guidance, the Commission became more gender and geographically diverse.

As Patrick Rombaut remembered, “Commission and jury members – always could count on Børges advice and yes if needed quite strong corrections. But at the end of each meeting or regatta we had to admit that thanks to this we could add again another aspect of umpiring to our own experience. He was a paternal teacher at any moment ready to transmit his knowledge as rower, as administrator and as umpire, but before all as human being to the next generation.”

Børge was a member of the FISA Executive Committee.  After his retirement he was made an honorary member of the FISA Council.  In 2018, Kaas-Andersen was awarded the Distinguished Service to International Rowing.

Apart from being a famous FISA person and his work as vice dean for a public school, Børge served as chairman of Danish Rowing for more than 10 years.  He was central to attracting the 1987 World Champ in Rowing Bagsværd.  With the Championship in hand he managed to initiate the political will to construct the boat house which now also houses the boats owned by the elite center. Børge Kaas-Andersen also served as the Secretary General of the International Masters Games Association.  He has been the father for whole generation of political leaders in Danish Rowing.  He has been a huge inspiration for many and his legacy is felt across our whole rowing community.