Donald E. (Dee) Rowe, former head coach of Men's Basketball at the University of Connecticut and UConn's iconic Athletics Ambassador for the past 53 years, passed away early Sunday, at his home in Storrs, CT at the age of 91, surrounded by his loving family. Dee was born on January 20, 1929, in Worcester, MA. He was predeceased by his beloved parents Minott and Arlene Rowe and his brother M. Richmond Rowe.
At Middlebury College, Dee met the love of his life, Virginia (Ginny) Bradford Reynolds. Dee and Ginny were married for 64 incredible years and shared a deep love and adoration for each other. Completely devoted, they were each other's best friends. Theirs was a love story for the ages. Together they raised a family of seven children, 17 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Ginny predeceased Dee in 2018.
Dee lived life with passion and purpose. He believed each day was a gift. He had a big personality and a bigger heart that drew people in wherever he went. His deep friendships knew no bounds. He was a master storyteller and had a sense of humor that was infectious. He reached out to people and inspired them to chase their dreams and become their best selves.
Dee spent his life in service, offering his support, wisdom, humor, and love. When he wasn't on the basketball court, Dee's favorite place in the world was Cape Cod. He, Ginny, and their family spent summers and holidays there, creating memories cherished for a lifetime.
Dee "fell in love" with the game of basketball in the third grade. He attended Worcester Academy (Class of '47), captaining the basketball and baseball teams, and played basketball at Middlebury College (A.B. 1952). He also earned an M.Ed. at Boston University in 1953.
Dee was Director of Athletics and Head Coach of men's basketball and baseball at Worcester Academy from 1955 to 1969. He built the school's basketball program into a perennial power in New England prep school ranks. His teams won nine New England Prep School Championships, and he compiled a record of 180-44. Dee also co-created the Worcester Academy sports camps and for nearly 60 years, the camp has served thousands of kids throughout Worcester and surrounding areas. Dee maintained close ties to Worcester Academy for over 70 years as a trustee emeritus and friend.
In March of 1969, Dee was named head coach of men's basketball at UConn and directed the program for the next eight years, winning 120 games. He was named New England Coach of the Year twice (1970, 1976), led UConn to a pair of NIT berths (1974, 1975), and guided the 1975-76 UConn team to the ECAC New England Championship, a berth in the NCAA Tournament and UConn advanced to the NCAA "Sweet 16."
In 1980, Dee experienced what he called "the greatest thrill of my personal basketball life" when he represented his country as Assistant Coach of the United States Men's Basketball Olympic Team. He joined head coach Dave Gavitt and fellow assistant coach Larry Brown as USA Olympic Basketball Coaches. After concluding his head coaching tenure at UConn, Dee launched the fund-raising arm for UConn Athletics. For the next 13 years, he became a national leader as a collegiate athletics fundraiser and generated millions of dollars for UConn athletics, including donations to support the building of the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion/Sports Center Complex.
For the past 30 years, since his official UConn "retirement" in 1991, Dee remained actively involved at the school in his emeritus role as Special Adviser for Athletics and UConn's Athletics Ambassador. Dee's remarkable professional career included numerous individual honors. This was highlighted in 2017 when he received his greatest recognition, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dee is survived by his seven children and their spouses, 17 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, their spouses and children.
~ Excerpt from obituary published by Hartford Courant on January 13, 2021.
At Middlebury College, Dee met the love of his life, Virginia (Ginny) Bradford Reynolds. Dee and Ginny were married for 64 incredible years and shared a deep love and adoration for each other. Completely devoted, they were each other's best friends. Theirs was a love story for the ages. Together they raised a family of seven children, 17 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Ginny predeceased Dee in 2018.
Dee lived life with passion and purpose. He believed each day was a gift. He had a big personality and a bigger heart that drew people in wherever he went. His deep friendships knew no bounds. He was a master storyteller and had a sense of humor that was infectious. He reached out to people and inspired them to chase their dreams and become their best selves.
Dee spent his life in service, offering his support, wisdom, humor, and love. When he wasn't on the basketball court, Dee's favorite place in the world was Cape Cod. He, Ginny, and their family spent summers and holidays there, creating memories cherished for a lifetime.
Dee "fell in love" with the game of basketball in the third grade. He attended Worcester Academy (Class of '47), captaining the basketball and baseball teams, and played basketball at Middlebury College (A.B. 1952). He also earned an M.Ed. at Boston University in 1953.
Dee was Director of Athletics and Head Coach of men's basketball and baseball at Worcester Academy from 1955 to 1969. He built the school's basketball program into a perennial power in New England prep school ranks. His teams won nine New England Prep School Championships, and he compiled a record of 180-44. Dee also co-created the Worcester Academy sports camps and for nearly 60 years, the camp has served thousands of kids throughout Worcester and surrounding areas. Dee maintained close ties to Worcester Academy for over 70 years as a trustee emeritus and friend.
In March of 1969, Dee was named head coach of men's basketball at UConn and directed the program for the next eight years, winning 120 games. He was named New England Coach of the Year twice (1970, 1976), led UConn to a pair of NIT berths (1974, 1975), and guided the 1975-76 UConn team to the ECAC New England Championship, a berth in the NCAA Tournament and UConn advanced to the NCAA "Sweet 16."
In 1980, Dee experienced what he called "the greatest thrill of my personal basketball life" when he represented his country as Assistant Coach of the United States Men's Basketball Olympic Team. He joined head coach Dave Gavitt and fellow assistant coach Larry Brown as USA Olympic Basketball Coaches. After concluding his head coaching tenure at UConn, Dee launched the fund-raising arm for UConn Athletics. For the next 13 years, he became a national leader as a collegiate athletics fundraiser and generated millions of dollars for UConn athletics, including donations to support the building of the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion/Sports Center Complex.
For the past 30 years, since his official UConn "retirement" in 1991, Dee remained actively involved at the school in his emeritus role as Special Adviser for Athletics and UConn's Athletics Ambassador. Dee's remarkable professional career included numerous individual honors. This was highlighted in 2017 when he received his greatest recognition, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dee is survived by his seven children and their spouses, 17 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, their spouses and children.
~ Excerpt from obituary published by Hartford Courant on January 13, 2021.
Donald E. (Dee) Rowe, former head coach of Men's Basketball at the University of Connecticut and UConn's iconic Athletics Ambassador for the past 53 years, passed away early Sunday, at his home in Storrs, CT at the age of 91, surrounded by his loving family. Dee was born on January 20, 1929, in Worcester, MA. He was predeceased by his beloved parents Minott and Arlene Rowe and his brother M. Richmond Rowe.
At Middlebury College, Dee met the love of his life, Virginia (Ginny) Bradford Reynolds. Dee and Ginny were married for 64 incredible years and shared a deep love and adoration for each other. Completely devoted, they were each other's best friends. Theirs was a love story for the ages. Together they raised a family of seven children, 17 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Ginny predeceased Dee in 2018.
Dee lived life with passion and purpose. He believed each day was a gift. He had a big personality and a bigger heart that drew people in wherever he went. His deep friendships knew no bounds. He was a master storyteller and had a sense of humor that was infectious. He reached out to people and inspired them to chase their dreams and become their best selves.
Dee spent his life in service, offering his support, wisdom, humor, and love. When he wasn't on the basketball court, Dee's favorite place in the world was Cape Cod. He, Ginny, and their family spent summers and holidays there, creating memories cherished for a lifetime.
Dee "fell in love" with the game of basketball in the third grade. He attended Worcester Academy (Class of '47), captaining the basketball and baseball teams, and played basketball at Middlebury College (A.B. 1952). He also earned an M.Ed. at Boston University in 1953.
Dee was Director of Athletics and Head Coach of men's basketball and baseball at Worcester Academy from 1955 to 1969. He built the school's basketball program into a perennial power in New England prep school ranks. His teams won nine New England Prep School Championships, and he compiled a record of 180-44. Dee also co-created the Worcester Academy sports camps and for nearly 60 years, the camp has served thousands of kids throughout Worcester and surrounding areas. Dee maintained close ties to Worcester Academy for over 70 years as a trustee emeritus and friend.
In March of 1969, Dee was named head coach of men's basketball at UConn and directed the program for the next eight years, winning 120 games. He was named New England Coach of the Year twice (1970, 1976), led UConn to a pair of NIT berths (1974, 1975), and guided the 1975-76 UConn team to the ECAC New England Championship, a berth in the NCAA Tournament and UConn advanced to the NCAA "Sweet 16."
In 1980, Dee experienced what he called "the greatest thrill of my personal basketball life" when he represented his country as Assistant Coach of the United States Men's Basketball Olympic Team. He joined head coach Dave Gavitt and fellow assistant coach Larry Brown as USA Olympic Basketball Coaches. After concluding his head coaching tenure at UConn, Dee launched the fund-raising arm for UConn Athletics. For the next 13 years, he became a national leader as a collegiate athletics fundraiser and generated millions of dollars for UConn athletics, including donations to support the building of the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion/Sports Center Complex.
For the past 30 years, since his official UConn "retirement" in 1991, Dee remained actively involved at the school in his emeritus role as Special Adviser for Athletics and UConn's Athletics Ambassador. Dee's remarkable professional career included numerous individual honors. This was highlighted in 2017 when he received his greatest recognition, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dee is survived by his seven children and their spouses, 17 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, their spouses and children.
~ Excerpt from obituary published by Hartford Courant on January 13, 2021.
At Middlebury College, Dee met the love of his life, Virginia (Ginny) Bradford Reynolds. Dee and Ginny were married for 64 incredible years and shared a deep love and adoration for each other. Completely devoted, they were each other's best friends. Theirs was a love story for the ages. Together they raised a family of seven children, 17 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Ginny predeceased Dee in 2018.
Dee lived life with passion and purpose. He believed each day was a gift. He had a big personality and a bigger heart that drew people in wherever he went. His deep friendships knew no bounds. He was a master storyteller and had a sense of humor that was infectious. He reached out to people and inspired them to chase their dreams and become their best selves.
Dee spent his life in service, offering his support, wisdom, humor, and love. When he wasn't on the basketball court, Dee's favorite place in the world was Cape Cod. He, Ginny, and their family spent summers and holidays there, creating memories cherished for a lifetime.
Dee "fell in love" with the game of basketball in the third grade. He attended Worcester Academy (Class of '47), captaining the basketball and baseball teams, and played basketball at Middlebury College (A.B. 1952). He also earned an M.Ed. at Boston University in 1953.
Dee was Director of Athletics and Head Coach of men's basketball and baseball at Worcester Academy from 1955 to 1969. He built the school's basketball program into a perennial power in New England prep school ranks. His teams won nine New England Prep School Championships, and he compiled a record of 180-44. Dee also co-created the Worcester Academy sports camps and for nearly 60 years, the camp has served thousands of kids throughout Worcester and surrounding areas. Dee maintained close ties to Worcester Academy for over 70 years as a trustee emeritus and friend.
In March of 1969, Dee was named head coach of men's basketball at UConn and directed the program for the next eight years, winning 120 games. He was named New England Coach of the Year twice (1970, 1976), led UConn to a pair of NIT berths (1974, 1975), and guided the 1975-76 UConn team to the ECAC New England Championship, a berth in the NCAA Tournament and UConn advanced to the NCAA "Sweet 16."
In 1980, Dee experienced what he called "the greatest thrill of my personal basketball life" when he represented his country as Assistant Coach of the United States Men's Basketball Olympic Team. He joined head coach Dave Gavitt and fellow assistant coach Larry Brown as USA Olympic Basketball Coaches. After concluding his head coaching tenure at UConn, Dee launched the fund-raising arm for UConn Athletics. For the next 13 years, he became a national leader as a collegiate athletics fundraiser and generated millions of dollars for UConn athletics, including donations to support the building of the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion/Sports Center Complex.
For the past 30 years, since his official UConn "retirement" in 1991, Dee remained actively involved at the school in his emeritus role as Special Adviser for Athletics and UConn's Athletics Ambassador. Dee's remarkable professional career included numerous individual honors. This was highlighted in 2017 when he received his greatest recognition, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dee is survived by his seven children and their spouses, 17 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, their spouses and children.
~ Excerpt from obituary published by Hartford Courant on January 13, 2021.
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