Missing rower's body found in Lake Stevens

From day one, Dave Balbirona was a natural at rowing.

He tried it for the first time last summer, pushing the oars in unison with Tony Scoringe, a member of Lake Stevens Rowing Club.

"He picked it up very quickly," Scoringe said.

Balbirona, 41, would spend many more days on Lake Stevens, propelling a rowing shell forward with a methodic, back-and-forth push of the oars. Scoringe often would go with him Saturday mornings, when the rowers would talk about why they loved the sport — for its serenity, its repetition of movement, and the Zenlike state it let them reach.

On Thursday evening, Balbirona was again on Lake Stevens, rowing with the local club as he often did. But at about 7:30 p.m., the boat he was rowing with a 50-year-old woman was struck by a speed boat. The shell flipped over, and Balbirona and the woman were tossed into the water. The woman surfaced; Balbirona did not. Divers found his body Friday afternoon, according to Randy Celori, Lake Stevens police chief.

A 17-year-old from Lake Stevens was driving the speed boat that struck the rowers, said Rick Merrill, the young man's attorney.

"The family would like to let everyone know that they're very sorry about the situation," Merrill said. "It was a bad accident. Their condolences go out to the Lake Stevens Rowing Club."

Balbirona, who lived in Lake Stevens, was a husband and father of four. His family could not be reached for comment.

"It's just devastating for everybody," Scoringe said. "He was an incredibly devoted husband and father."

Scoringe said the entire rowing community has offered its sympathies, and he said he's heard from rowing clubs all over the country.

Scoringe said Balbirona was at a normal practice for the rowing club at the time of the crash. He was out with five other rowing boats and two safety boats that were equipped with lights, life jackets and other safety gear, Scoringe said. Scoringe described Balbirona as a fun guy who took his job at Microsoft, his family and recreation seriously, but enjoyed life.

"He was just one of those great guys," Scoringe said. "He would be your favorite brother, uncle or cousin."

Jay DeFolco, a pastor at Holy Cross Parish where Balbirona attended with his family, said Balbirona was always there to lend a helping hand — whether helping in the kitchen or with a local picnic.

"When someone is healthy and their life is tragically taken, it's a shock," he said. "He loved rowing, and it was a wonderful activity in his life that gave him great joy. That's what's so sad about it."

Carly Flandro: 206-464-2108 or cflandro@seattletimes.com