John Edward Rowe of Durham, N.C. — 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, Vt., where his father ran the town’s medical clinic. He was the fourth of six 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 more than 40 years and raised their four children. In the early 1990s, the family moved to Fairview, N.C., 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; and Edward Rowe, his wife, Megan Gray, and their children, Jacob and Eliza. He is also survived by 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 was held on Saturday, February 8, 2025, in North Carolina. A second service will be held at the Wells River Congregational church (76 Main Street North) on Saturday, October 4, 2025, 11 a.m., followed by a reception on the lawn of Little Rivers Health Care at 65 Main Street. The community is invited to honor the life and service of Dr. John and that of his parents , Dr. Harry and Mrs. Mary Whitney Rowe, that continues in the expansive medical care provided by Little Rivers Health Care and the Whitney-Rowe Clinic.