Thomas James Rowan, Jr., known to friends and family as Tom, passed away on November 24, 2025, at the age of 74, at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, NY, following a struggle with ALS. He was born on January 17, 1951, on Staten Island, NY, the son of Thomas J. Rowan, Sr. and Barbara Rowan.
Tom attended Monsignor Farrell High School in Staten Island, where he excelled in track and cross country, recording the fastest indoor mile in New York City as a sophomore in 1967. He continued his education at Temple University in Philadelphia on an athletic scholarship. Tom was committed to lifelong learning, earning masters degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University (education of the blind), Virginia Commonwealth University (gerontology) and Caldwell (NJ) University (pastoral ministry). He met his beloved wife, Catherine (Lane) Rowan, at Columbia University, and they were married for 49 years.
Tom began his professional life as a teacher of the blind and visually impaired in Wayne County, New York, and Henrico County, Virginia. In 1987, he joined Maryknoll as a lay missioner, serving for six years in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with his wife Cathy and sons Dan and Phil. While in Brazil, Tom made it his mission to accompany AIDS patients and their families, working with an AIDS ministry program of the local Catholic diocese, an experience that led to his later becoming a lay chaplain in the US through the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. He and Cathy formed an affinity for Brazilian culture, and Tom was known for making an excellent caipirinha.
Upon returning to the US in 1994, Tom was elected to the leadership team of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners. Tom and Cathy later settled in the Bronx, where Tom served as a chaplain at two nursing homes before becoming the chaplain at St. Barnabas Hospital until his retirement in 2017. He was a long-time member of Pax Christi USA and active in its local chapters in Richmond and New York, and helped coordinate the Parkchester Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in the Bronx. Tom and Cathy were members of the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Manhattan.
Tom was a devoted husband, loving father to his two sons, Daniel (Jen) Rowan of Springfield, PA, and Philip (Erynn) Rowan of Brooklyn, NY, and a caring grandfather to Keira (Dan & Jen), and Eamon and Imogen (Phil & Erynn). He was also a gifted runner who finished 18th in the inaugural Richmond Marathon in 1978. Friends and family admired his ability to repair or repurpose 'found' objects, earning him the nickname "Mr. Fix-it" within the family. Tom will be remembered for his kindness, humor, his commitment to justice and peace and his willingness to help others.
Tom is survived by his wife Catherine Rowan; his two children, Daniel (Jen) Rowan and Philip (Erynn) Rowan; and three grandchildren, Keira, Eamon and Imogen. He is also survived by his siblings Judy (Chris) Edwards, Susan (Lee) Rowan, and David Rowan, and many loving cousins, nieces, and nephews. Tom is predeceased by his parents Thomas J. Rowan, Sr. and Barbara Hook Rowan, and his niece Markie Rowan.
Tom donated his brain and spinal cord to Columbia University Medical Center's Brain Donation Program for research purposes. His body was aquamated (water cremation) at The Green Cremation in Manchester, Connecticut. His water cremation remains will be scattered in places dear to Tom's heart. There will be a memorial celebration of Tom's life at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, NY, in late February 2026.
To honor Tom's memory, please feel free to make a donation to any of these organizations: I AM ALS (iamals.org); Pax Christi Metro NY (nypaxchristi.org); Maryknoll Lay Missioners (mklm.org); or Maryknoll Sisters (maryknollsisters.org).
Arrangements were handled by Inpeace Cremation and Aquamation Services, New York.
Tom attended Monsignor Farrell High School in Staten Island, where he excelled in track and cross country, recording the fastest indoor mile in New York City as a sophomore in 1967. He continued his education at Temple University in Philadelphia on an athletic scholarship. Tom was committed to lifelong learning, earning masters degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University (education of the blind), Virginia Commonwealth University (gerontology) and Caldwell (NJ) University (pastoral ministry). He met his beloved wife, Catherine (Lane) Rowan, at Columbia University, and they were married for 49 years.
Tom began his professional life as a teacher of the blind and visually impaired in Wayne County, New York, and Henrico County, Virginia. In 1987, he joined Maryknoll as a lay missioner, serving for six years in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with his wife Cathy and sons Dan and Phil. While in Brazil, Tom made it his mission to accompany AIDS patients and their families, working with an AIDS ministry program of the local Catholic diocese, an experience that led to his later becoming a lay chaplain in the US through the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. He and Cathy formed an affinity for Brazilian culture, and Tom was known for making an excellent caipirinha.
Upon returning to the US in 1994, Tom was elected to the leadership team of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners. Tom and Cathy later settled in the Bronx, where Tom served as a chaplain at two nursing homes before becoming the chaplain at St. Barnabas Hospital until his retirement in 2017. He was a long-time member of Pax Christi USA and active in its local chapters in Richmond and New York, and helped coordinate the Parkchester Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in the Bronx. Tom and Cathy were members of the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Manhattan.
Tom was a devoted husband, loving father to his two sons, Daniel (Jen) Rowan of Springfield, PA, and Philip (Erynn) Rowan of Brooklyn, NY, and a caring grandfather to Keira (Dan & Jen), and Eamon and Imogen (Phil & Erynn). He was also a gifted runner who finished 18th in the inaugural Richmond Marathon in 1978. Friends and family admired his ability to repair or repurpose 'found' objects, earning him the nickname "Mr. Fix-it" within the family. Tom will be remembered for his kindness, humor, his commitment to justice and peace and his willingness to help others.
Tom is survived by his wife Catherine Rowan; his two children, Daniel (Jen) Rowan and Philip (Erynn) Rowan; and three grandchildren, Keira, Eamon and Imogen. He is also survived by his siblings Judy (Chris) Edwards, Susan (Lee) Rowan, and David Rowan, and many loving cousins, nieces, and nephews. Tom is predeceased by his parents Thomas J. Rowan, Sr. and Barbara Hook Rowan, and his niece Markie Rowan.
Tom donated his brain and spinal cord to Columbia University Medical Center's Brain Donation Program for research purposes. His body was aquamated (water cremation) at The Green Cremation in Manchester, Connecticut. His water cremation remains will be scattered in places dear to Tom's heart. There will be a memorial celebration of Tom's life at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, NY, in late February 2026.
To honor Tom's memory, please feel free to make a donation to any of these organizations: I AM ALS (iamals.org); Pax Christi Metro NY (nypaxchristi.org); Maryknoll Lay Missioners (mklm.org); or Maryknoll Sisters (maryknollsisters.org).
Arrangements were handled by Inpeace Cremation and Aquamation Services, New York.
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