Bucks
Andy Rouse
Dear Friends,
Good morning. “They promised me that I wouldn’t have to say anything, so I won’t,” Andy Rouse told the guests at his 80th birthday bash at the Philadelphia Museum of Art last week. The crowd roared at the response.
Although Andrew Rouse has lived quietly in Tinicum Township for decades, his career and interests have the quality of the big leagues. He’s a remarkable, independent, charming, gruff, and generous fellow. In a fight, you want Andy on your side.
Years ago, I introduced him to rowing at the University Barge Club. He had recently retired as one of the Executive Vice Presidents of Cigna Corp, a gigantic international insurance company. Andy was looking for a new sport.
“No one pulls harder on the river than Andy Rouse,” John Basinski observed at the birthday party. John is one of UBC’s past Presidents. That’s quite a tribute. A rowing stand out in the 1970’s at the University of Pennsylvania, Basinski won a gold medal at the Henley Regatta, England, probably the most famous rowing event in the world.
You’ll see Andy Rouse on the river every day at 5:30 in the morning.
Jeff Lindtner was the quarterback for Andy’s surprise party. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Springfield Township, where she is the Vice Chairwoman of the supervisors. A fellow graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, Andy hired Jeff at the Insurance Company of America (INA), the precursor of Cigna.
“When I’m Andy’s age…if I make it that far…I would hope that I have the good fortune to have so many young people present for an event like this,” Jeff wrote in his email to me. “I’ve known too many folks to only see a diminishing circle of friends at that age.”
The art museum was the venue because Andy’s been a trustee there for decades. He’s the chairman of its finance committee. “What’s his secret to the fountain of youth,” Gail Harrity asked? She’s the Acting Chief Executive of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
She gestured around the room at people half Andy’s age. “Art has been an integral part of his life,” Ms. Harrity began. “He sketches during board meetings. He sketches the trustees,” she smiled.
“For three decades, Andy’s been instrumental in prioritizing [issues and projects] at the art museum,” she continued. “He understands the importance of balance. His life is balanced with business and culture…indoors and outdoors.”
John Fry is the President of Franklin and Marshall where Andy’s been a trustee for more than 35 years. “There are four reasons why Andy is an uncommon man,” Fry told us. “He has the ability to go to the weakest link and make it stronger. Andy is always generous…but quietly. He’s modest, self-effacing. Andy inspires us. He identifies young men and women and gives them an opportunity.”
Here, Fry was referring to the Rouse Scholars, a program which Andy funds at F and M. Fry mentioned a young student who described Andy as someone who challenged him.
Rowers at UBC won’t be surprised that Andy bought a shell for the women’s team at F and M. It’s name? “The 19th Amendment,” Andy laughed. The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution ended women’s suffrage and gave them the right to vote. He conceived the naming idea at UBC where two of the racing boats are named after the First and the Second Amendments.
During the Korean War, Andy was a decorated fighter-bomber pilot. He flew around 30 missions, he estimated.
Andy has national standing as well. In the Lyndon Johnson administration, Andy headed the team for U.S. postal reform. The effort concluded successfully during the Richard Nixon administration. His team produced the Postal Reorganization Act, which took the Postal Department out of the president’s cabinet and created the U.S. Postal Service, an independent institution instead.
Andy has varied interests in the cultural arena. In Philadelphia, he’s served on the boards of the Pennsylvania Ballet and the Philadelphia Singers.
His younger brother was one of the 116 on the guess list. Roger Rouse told me that their father’s birthday was on the very day of the party. “Dad would be 115 if he were alive today,” Roger said. Coincidentally, Andy’s birthday was September 11th.
I see him every morning at 5:30. Andy’s either stroking a quad (four rowers with an oar in each hand)…or he’s grinding away on one of the torturous rowing machines in the UBC weight room.
At 80, he’s an inspiration for us all.
Sincerely,
Charles Meredith