Ernestine Bayer

Ernestine Bayer (born March 25, 1909 – September 10, 2006) was an American rower who has been called the "Mother of Women's Rowing".

Early life Ernestine Steppacher was born in Philadelphia to Henry and Rosetta Steppacher. As a child she taught herself to ride a bicycle, and took rides on crabbing boats in the Delaware Bay. She later attended secretarial school, and worked as a stenographer in a local bank.

Rowing career Bayer became interested in rowing through her husband, Ernest Bayer, who became a silver medalist in rowing at the 1928 Olympics.

In 1966, the Women’s Eight from the PGRC won the first National Women’s Rowing Championships. His decision was overruled by the president of the international rowing organization after the team competed successfully in Canada. The team secured a secret loan from Horace Davenport, head of the National Rowing Foundation, to finance their travel, and sourced their own uniforms. Also that year she competed in the Master's World Championships in Montreal winning the women's double, the women's eight, and taking 2nd in the mixed double.

Personal life and death Ernestine secretly married Ernest Bayer (d. 1997) on January 28, 1928.