January 2, 2019
UW mourns the death of Blake Nordstrom
The following are statements from University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce, director of athletics Jennifer Cohen and men’s rowing head coach Michael Callahan on the passing of Blake Nordstrom:
UW President Ana Mari Cauce:
“All of us at the University of Washington are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Blake Nordstrom. We will always be grateful for his generous support of our students and, as a dyed-in-the-wool Husky, he embodied the spirit of the Pacific Northwest in so many ways. We are proud to count him, like so many members of his extraordinary family, among our alumni, and his impact will be felt here – in classrooms, on the field and the water, and in the lives of our students – forever. His service to the UW community and far beyond are a lasting testament to his character and talent. Our thoughts are with his family and friends as we mourn his loss.”
Jennifer Cohen, UW director of athletics
“I am devastated to hear the news of Blake’s passing. From his time as a student-athlete to his generosity to the University of Washington, Blake was a true Husky and leaves a deep and lasting legacy on Montlake and in the city of Seattle. He was a dear friend to me and so many in our department and my heart breaks for his family and all who knew him.”
Michael Callahan, UW men’s rowing head coach
“Blake Nordstrom was the consummate oarsman and teammate. He highly valued his years rowing at Washington, and was a dedicated steward to the program since the ‘80s. Not only did he value the sport itself, and the lifelong friendships he made as a student-athlete, but he was also a committed mentor to many students throughout the years. He stopped at nothing to improve the lives of these young people, and was humble and dedicated; a tireless advocate for the sport – and Washington – throughout his life.”
