Gillin Boat Club, established with the opening on the Robert M. Gillin, Jr. Boathouse in June of 2002, joined the Schuylkill Navy on September 20, 2004, by unanimous vote of the delegates of the Schuylkill Navy's ten member clubs. The Robert M. Gillin, Jr. Boathouse is home to the Saint Joseph's University men's and women's rowing teams and the boy's team of Saint Joseph's Prep.The Fairmount Park Commission approved this 20,000 square foot facility in 1998. It is a two-level facility on Kelly Drive across the parking lot from the Canoe Club. The property extends from the river's edge to the sidewalk on Kelly Drive, with a lot size of approximately 4,000 square feet. There are four bays for storage and launching of the boats on the first floor, and locker room and coaches' offices on the second floor.
There are approximately 100 men and women on the University team and approximately 100 boys on the Prep team.
More about Gillin on the St. Joseph's University web site
The club and boathouse are named for Robert M. Gillin, Jr. (1962-1992). Bob was the eldest son of Martha and Robert Gillin, Sr. Bob's family has very close ties to Jesuit education. Six of Bob's nine siblings attended Jesuit universities and his father was the first recipient of the Shield of Loyola Award.
Bob was an oarsman for The Haverford School from 1974-1981 and for Georgetown University 1981-1985. Bob competed all over the U.S., and at the Royal Henley Regatta outside of London.
Though Robert M. Gillin, Jr. lived a mere 30 years, his influence is not silenced by any passing of time and his presence is still felt by the people whose lives he enriched.