In Memory of Brian Lilly Jr.

On Monday January 4th 2021, Brian Lilly's life was tragically cut short.  To honor Brian, PCRA will be launching this effort to secure the necessary funds to purchase a brand new 8+ boat that will be named the "Brian Lilly Jr. - YEAH BUDDY!"   

About Brian:

Brian Lilly was a wonderful PCRA and life story.  Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at an early age he literally outworked that disease through his force of will; pushing and challenging himself physically and mentally to overcome it.  Those traits made him one of PCRA’s great stories; transforming him from a gangly, uncoordinated 14 year old to one of our best rowers.  His enthusiasm and dedication made him a true leader both in word and deed and he made those around him better.  He truly exemplified the most honored and cherished rowing traits of dedication, discipline, teammate and sportsman.  Brian truly loved PCRA and he will always hold a special place in our hearts.  His spirit, enthusiasm and pertinacity will be honored and remembered by the PCRA family.

Starting with PCRA in the spring of 2017, Brian began a journey in the world of endurance sport which would turn out to be one of his life's biggest passions.  He worked incredibly hard that winter, breaking the 7 minute mark for 2000m on the erg, which led to him making the 2nd Varsity 8+ and earning a Bronze medal at the New York State Championships.   That same year, he was named the Most Improved and was then asked to serve as the team captain as a Senior.  He earned a bronze medal at the Philly Youth regatta in the 8+ in the summer of 2018 and competed in the PCRA Varsity 8+ for the entirety of his senior year.  He ran and finished the New York City Marathon in the fall of 2018 for the Arthritis Foundation Team, all while training and competing on a full rowing schedule.  Brian proudly finished the Ironman Lake Placid triathlon competition in the summer of 2019, requiring a 2.4 mile swim (3.9K), 112 mile bike (180.2K), and 26.2 mile marathon run (42.2K), widely considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world.

Having found his love of rowing at PCRA, Brian continued on as a Division 1 student-athlete at the University of California San Diego. He helped the UCSD C boat to a 10th place finish of 21 crews in the Men’s Open 8+ at the 2019 San Diego Fall Classic Regatta and  was pursuing a BS in Real Estate and Development at UCSD.

We hope you will join us in celebrating this wonderful young man and his family, and help in forever etching Brian's name into the PCRA boathouse.  Thank you!