Dr. Benjamin Spock would gain worldwide fame as the authoritative voice on infant care for over a half century. But before he became “the baby doc”, the New Haven native was a world class rower who won Olympic gold at the Paris games in 1924.

Spock, the son of a Yale graduate and lawyer for the New Haven railroad, lived at 165 Cold Spring St. in New Haven. He attended Worthington Hooker School in the East Rock neighborhood and later Hamden Hall.

The oldest of six children, he once described himself in a Register story as timid boy who was “unable to stand up to tough boys, scared of spiders, scared of Italians.”

Athletics helped Spock gain self-confidence. He made the varsity crew at Yale, and the Eli boat qualified for men’s eights at the Olympics.

Read Chip Malafronte's complete story.