Robert C. Diehl

Robert “Bob” C. Diehl, a community conscious Bellingham businessman, died on Sunday, January 28, 2024 at the age of 84. He was born in Bellingham, WA in 1939 to Robert H. Diehl, and Lillian E. (Bennerstrom) Diehl.

Diehl was the third-generation president of the Diehl Ford Company in Bellingham, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2008. At the time, it was the third-oldest Ford dealership in the world among 20,000 dealerships in 59 countries. In 2004, Diehl received the Whatcom County Business Lifetime Achievement Award and, in 2007, he was named “Dealer of the Year” by the Washington State Auto Dealers Association.

Diehl, who coached men’s rowing at Western from 1970 to 1976, was a 2003 inductee to the WWU Athletics Hall of Fame. A 1957 graduate of Bellingham High School, where he was the ASB President, Diehl attended the University of Washington where he rowed for the Huskies for three years (1958-60). His first coach at Montlake Cut was Al Ulbrickson of “Boys in the Boat” fame, who coached the Huskies to a gold medal at the 1936 Olympic Games.

Diehl earned his bachelor’s degree in 1961 at the UW in business administration. He then completed a tour of duty in the Army as a field artillery officer stationed in Germany before returning back home to Bellingham. Diehl began rowing competitively again in 1992 and went on to win several rowing medals on both the national stage and international level. After retiring from the car business, Diehl realized his dream of creating a community rowing program for Whatcom County, founding and working with the Whatcom Rowing Association, a nonprofit, community-based rowing club dedicated to offering individuals of all ages the opportunity to learn the sport of rowing. Just five years after starting the WRA, Diehl had a boathouse completed at Bloedel Donovan Park.

A past-president of the Bellingham Rotary Club, Diehl twice received Paul Harris Fellow recognition, and in the summer of 2010, Bob summited Mount Baker with fellow Rotarians. Amongst fellow Rotarians, Bob was affectionately referred to as the “Ski Meister” for his organizing many ski trips around the western states and Canada. He was a member of the Board of Directors for St. Luke’s/St. Joseph’s Hospital from 1982 to 2006. He also served on the Boy Scouts Mount Baker Council, was YMCA President, and Director of the Horizon Bank Board, The Western Foundation, and Western’s President’s Club. Bob served 54 years on the Mount Baker Recreation board and is proud to have a ski run named in his honor: “Diehl’s Run” off of chair 5.

Sailing was another huge part of Bob’s identity. Having competed in the Van Isle 360 five times, he was often heard saying “fun first, racing second.” Over the decades, Bob spent countless times recreationally sailing in the San Juans and Canadian Gulf Islands.

Diehl is survived by his wife of 47 years, Conni, son Mike (wife Tracy), four grandchildren, Sam, Max (wife Lauren), Gus, and Delaney, great-granddaughter, Jovi, sister, Carolyn (husband Jim), and many loving relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Whatcom Rowing Association (PO Box 1163, Bellingham, WA 98227) or Whatcom Community Sailing (805 Dupont St. #8, Bellingham, WA 98225).

An outdoor service of remembrance for Bob will be held Saturday, March 23 at 1:00pm at the Whatcom Rowing Association Boathouse at Bloedel Donovan Park, 2202 Electric Ave. Reception following. Dress for the elements and please carpool, if possible.