by JB
posted on July 28, 2001

At this stage in my life, the summer always means one of two things. Either racing season is in full swing, or weddings are taking place left and right. Last weekend, (07/28/01) I had the pleasure of attending one of the latter. An old friend and college teammate, Dave LeFebvre, got married.

Dave, 33, married Jeanne Sussmann, 28, in what can only be described as a wonderful gathering of friends and family.

Neither Dave or Jeanne, who reside in Cambridge MA., are strangers to the sport of rowing. It was certainly that common link which helped bring the two together. Dave, Boston University class of '90 and current BU freshman coach, has spent time with various National team camps. In '96, he earned a spot in the coxed pair for the World Championships. Jeanne, a graduate of Umass Amherst and currently a Geotechnical Engineer, won two NCAA silvers in their varsity 8, six Golds at Nationals, and competed with the women at the ARCO National Training Center in San Diego.

The couple's big day started with a now common tradition among rower weddings, the impromptu row. A small flotilla of 'doubles' launched from the BU Boathouse. The wedding ceremony began at 3 that afternoon, in Boston University's Marsh Chapel. And the reception followed shortly thereafter, at the BU DeWolfe Boathouse.

Guests of the wedding welcomed the greeting of such a beautiful day. Hardly a cloud hung in the sky, and the temperatures were reasonably comfortable. Grueling humidity earlier in the week had prompted Dave and Jeanne to supply battery operated fans for the guest to cool themselves. Dave commented, "I feel a tremendous amount of relief that everything went off smoothly - especially the weather. Imagine how difficult the day would have been if it were in the 90s and humid."

Well, the day couldn't have been better for everyone involved. And I would like to invite the rest of the rowing community in congratulating Dave and Jeanne as they embark on a well deserved honeymoon in France.