 Pearce's father, Henry J "Harry, Jr" Pearce Jr., was an Australian sculling champion and challenged for the world championship twice (in 1911 and 1913), losing to Richard Arnst (NZL) and Ernest Barry (GBR) respectively.One of Pearce's aunts was a New South Wales swimming champion.Pearce's uncle Sandy Pearce, was a national rugby league representative inducted into that sport's Australian Hall of Fame.