BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Robert "Bob" C. Diehl, a community conscious Bellingham businessman, who was a life-long rower and a member of the Western Washington University Athletics Hall of Fame, died on Sunday, Jan. 28, from an apparent heart attack. He was 84.

Diehl was the third-generation president of the Diehl Ford Company in Bellingham, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018. At the time, it was the third-oldest Ford dealership in the world among 20,000 dealerships in 59 countries.

In 2004, Diehl received the Whatcom County Business Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2007 he was named "Dealer of the Year" by the Washington State Auto Dealers Association.

Diehl, who coached men's rowing at Western from 1970 to 1976, was a 2003 inductee into WWU Athletics Hall of Fame. Two of his rowers, Chuck Rutherford and Darrell Vreugdenhil, went on to compete in the Olympic Games.

During his coaching tenure with the Vikings, Diehl began the WWU Invitational Regatta, which brought virtually every rowing program in the northwest to Lake Samish for a span of 13 years.

It was under Diehl that Western made its first appearance at the prestigious Opening Day Regatta in 1973. His varsity eights won LaFromboise Cup (northwest small college) titles in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975. Also, in 1973, Diehl's varsity four placed fourth at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) championships. Later, he had an eight-oared shell named in his honor.

A 1957 graduate of Bellingham High School where he was the ASB President, Diehl attended the University of Washington where he rowed for the Huskies for three years (1958-60). His first coach at Montlake Cut was Al Ulbrickson of "Boys in the Boat" fame, who coached the Huskies to a gold medal at the 1936 Olympic Games.

Diehl earned his bachelor's degree in 1961at the UW in business administration. He then completed a tour of duty in the army before returning to Bellingham.

Diehl began rowing competitively again in 1992, winning several medals in masters singles, doubles and quads competition. Highlighting those accomplishments were gold medals at the 1993, 1995 and 1997 U.S. National and Canadian National championships. He won a gold and  two bronze medals at the 1994 World Master Games in Australia, and took silver and bronze medals at the 1998 World Master Games held in Portland, Ore.

After retiring from his car dealership, Diehl realized his dream of creating a community rowing program for Whatcom County, founding and working with the Whatcom Rowing Association, a nonprofit, community-based rowing club dedicated to offering individuals of all ages the opportunity to learn the sport of rowing in a safe, fun and beautiful environment.

Just five years after starting the WRA, Diehl had a boathouse completed at Bloedel Donovan Park.

Diehl twice climbed to the top of Mount Baker, the last time on July 10, 2010 at the age of 70.

A past president of the Bellingham Rotary Club, Diehl twice received Paul Harris Fellow recognition. He was a member of the Board of Directors for St. Luke's/St. Joseph's Hospital from 1982 to 2006. He also served as a board member of the Mount Baker Ski Recreation for over 50 years, YMCA President, Director of the Horizon Bank Board, The Western Foundation, Western's Presidents Club and was involved in the Boy Scouts (Whatcom Council) and the DARE program.

Diehl is survived by his wife of 47 years, Conni, and by his son from a previous marriage, Mike (wife Tracy) and four grandchildren. Other survivors are his sister Carolyn and husband Jim.

A Celebration of Life ceremony is scheduled for March 23 (1 p.m.) at the Whatcom Rowing Association Boathouse at Bloedel-Donovan Park on Lake Whatcom..
                                                                                                                                    Bob Diehl