The parents of John Steve Catilo, a former University student who drowned last summer while coaching novice rowers on the Potomac River, have recently filed a lawsuit against Catilo's employer, the Alexandria Crew Boosters.
Catilo's parents sued the Crew Boosters contending the club was liable for his death for failing to provide adequate safety training for its summer coaches and disregarding safety rules for boating on the Potomac, The Washington Post reported in an Aug. 4 article.
The incident has prompted crew clubs, including the University's, to re-evaluate safety procedures. University women's crew coach Kevin Sauer said while the University carries life jackets for the rowers and coaches in the launch, very few coaches actually wear life jackets in the boat themselves.
"That's something that we are considering in response to this," Sauer said.
Official safety procedures call for wearing a life jacket at all times in the launch, said Gary Weeden, general manager of Thompson's Boat Center on the Potomac and a member of the Potomac River Safety Committee.
"In our launches, it's a requirement, and we provide a life jacket for the coach to wear," Weeden said. "In not all launches is that the case."
The Catilo's lawsuit also cited the fact that a device which would have killed the engine if the boat operator falls out was disabled in the boat Catilo was coaching from when he drowned.
"There are very few people who actually wear that because it is cumbersome, and when we're coaching, we stand up," Sauer said.
Bruce Klores, the Catilo's attorney, did not return repeated calls.
Crew Boosters representatives said they were unable to comment on Catilo's death in light of pending litigation.
"The facts ought to be debated in the court," said Crew Boosters attorney Robert Ferguson, Jr. "As far as the incident itself is concerned, we have sympathy for the plaintiff."
The Crew Boosters did release a statement which said while they were unable to comment on the specific allegations in the suit, "Our coaches are trained to handle themselves and to supervise their crews with safety as their primary concern."
The statement also expressed condolences for Catilo and his family.
"Words cannot express the sadness that surrounded the death of John Steve. Our deepest sympathies have been expressed to his family. To family members, to the children he coached, to fellow coaches and rowers and to countless others, his death was heartbreaking."
Some members of the University community said they are still feeling Catilo's absence.
"All of us were in complete shock," said Patricio Prieto, a fourth-year College student who belonged to the Phi Delta Theta fraternity with Catilo.
"I only knew him for six months, and I felt like I lost someone I knew all my life. He was involved in every possible organization. He was very well known for being a selfless person. He would do whatever he had to do for his friends no matter when or what he needed to do."
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