Rothstein Throws Himself Into Gourds and Guinness
By Deborah Feldman
Yep, that was Dave Rothstein ’97, ephemeral artist, environmental lawyer and all-around merrymaker with a cause, paddling in a pumpkin down the Connecticut River in November. If you didn’t happen to catch a glimpse of Rothstein’s trek, which was featured on local news outlets including WBUR and MassLive, we fortunately have a gourdeous photo to share with you here.
Rothstein, who paddled 40 miles in 22 hours over three days, unofficially set the world record for “longest journey by pumpkin boat (paddling)” — in his case, a 1,024-pound pumpkin. His record now awaits Guinness World Records’ acknowledgement. This fabulous feat is Rothstein’s way of raising awareness about his beloved Connecticut River watershed.
“The Connecticut River weaves itself through our lives, feeding us both literally and figuratively. It is a link to our past, an evolving natural system and a muse. It is ours to enjoy but also protect,” said Rothstein, a former attorney-advisor with the US Fish and Wildlife Service who now assists Mass Audubon as a land protection specialist and has earned a national reputation as a sand and ice sculptor (see this magazine’s winter 2017 issue for a chilling story, “Winter Wonder Man”). “Ephemeral art forces us to appreciate that beauty is fleeting. And although sculptures melt away and pumpkins float by, the memories we hold, and stories retold, make the effort worthwhile.”
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