Bob Barde has been a member of the South End Rowing Club since 2007.  In addition to modest swimming accomplishments (Alcatraz, Golden Gate), he rows, has played handball, and for five years was a regular at Boat (repair) Night. He is an experienced historian who has written extensively on immigration history; his Immigration at the Golden Gate was published in 2008 and received laudatory reviews in numerous academic journals.  For over twenty years Bob served as Deputy Director of UC Berkeley’s Institute of Business and Economic Research.  Prior to that he was co-owner-manager of The Best of Africa art gallery (Toronto), and earlier the Educational Supervisor of documentaries on Africa (“The Africa File/Dossier Afrique”) for TVOntario in Toronto.  The author has hitch-hiked across the Sahara, taken a river steamer to Timbuktu, and is a black belt in Shotokan-style karate.  He now lives in Alameda, California, with his wife and sweetheart, Dawn McKenzie.