John Edward Rowe

Durham, NC - John Edward Rowe - beloved father, grandfather, brother, and uncle - died tragically on January 21, 2025 at the age of 73. Following a long career as a family medicine doctor, John had recently retired and cherished the ability to devote more time to the things he loved: performing music (he was a lifelong cellist and vocalist and was active in the Durham Medical Orchestra and the Choral Society of Durham), political activism, gardening, traveling, and above all spending time with his adult children and grandchildren.

John was born on June 18, 1951 and grew up in Wells River, Vermont, where his father ran the town’s medical clinic. He was the 4th of 6 siblings who all remain close to this day. John graduated from Harvard University in 1973 and, following in his father’s footsteps, went on to receive his medical education from the University of Vermont before going back home to work at the Wells River Clinic. During his medical residency, he met and married Linda Rowe (née Pritz), with whom he enjoyed a marriage of over 40 years and raised their four children. In the early 1990s, the family moved to Fairview, NC, where John worked for 33 years at the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) as both a physician and a mentor to numerous students and residents in training. Following Linda’s death in 2020, John relocated to Durham to be closer to his children and grandchildren. 

John is survived by his children, Kate Rowe and her partner Matt Hornaday; Lucas Rowe, his wife Jenny Thompson, and their children Simon and Arden; Edward Rowe, his wife Megan Gray, and their children Jacob and Eliza; his partner Jill Rohner; and a large extended family of siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Linda Rowe, and his oldest daughter, Lauren Rowe.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 1pm at United Church of Chapel Hill (1321 M.L.K. Blvd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514). The church will stream the service online for those who are unable to attend in person. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in John’s memory to one of these causes he cared deeply about: Everytown for Gun Safety or your local NPR station.