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Donald R. Rowe

Donald Rowe Obituary

Donald R. Rowe Donald Richard Rowe, age 78, of Fairview passed away Wednesday March 18, 2009 at Forestview Nursing Center at Springhill. He was born in Erie on June 30, 1930, the son of Harold K. and Agnes Johnson Rowe. Donald graduated from Ripley Central School and DeVry of Chicago. He served in the United States Air Force and participated in the start up of NATO while stationed in Europe. Donald was employed for 41 years at WSEE Television as a Producer/Director and as Production Manager, retiring in 1997. He was a past president of NABET Local 28 and was a member of the Erie Maennerchor and the Saints and Sinners organization. He was a life member of VFW Post 435 and American Legion Post 773 and had served on the Board of Directors of MECA, United Cerebral Palsy. He was preceded in death by his father, Harold, who died in 1983 and by his mother, Agnes who died in 2000. Donald is survived by his partner of 30 years Rita Masi; three brothers, Harold K. (Mike) Rowe and his wife Madylan of North East; Robert J. Rowe of Middletown, Pa. and John G. Rowe and his wife Marlene of Old Orchard Beach, Maine. He is further survived by his three daughters, Gina Brown and her husband Jason of Erie, Debra Jean Rowe, and Kelley Anderson and her husband David, all of Corning, N.Y.; and his two sons Duncan Rowe and his wife Lou Anna of Bath, N.Y. and Alan Rowe and his wife Debra of Pinson, Ala. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to call at the John J. Quinn Funeral Home, West 9th & Liberty St. Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. & 7 to 9 p.m. and are invited to attend Funeral Services there Saturday at 11:00 a.m. concluding with Military Honors. Burial will be private. A memorial buffet dinner will follow at 12 noon Saturday, March 21st at the VFW Post 470 Banquet hall, 1808 West 26th St., Erie. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Second Harvest Food Bank, 1507 Grimm Dr., Erie, PA 16501 or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2115 West 8th St., Erie, PA 16505. Sign the guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits

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Published by Erie Times-News from Mar. 19 to Mar. 20, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Donald Rowe

20 Entries

David Vossburg

April 4, 2009

To Mr Don Rowe

You will be missed by all of us.

Signed

PICKET ONE "DAVID J VOSSBURG"

Don Caddis

March 21, 2009

I'm so sorry to hear of Don's passing. I have many memories of our sharing in sports, scouts, and just hanging out together in Ripley. All lasting and not forgotten!

Jim Welle

March 21, 2009

Rita and family, I am so sorry to hear of Don's passing. He was truly one of the great ones and I cherish every memory of working with him at WSEE. We were a fun-loving, dysfunctional family and Donny Baby was our crazy father figure. He was a wonderful soul and I will miss him.

Tom DiVecchio

March 21, 2009

My thoughts and prayers are with you during this sad time. Don was one of the nicest people I ever met during my time at Channel 35. In fact, he was one of the nicest guys I have ever met in my life. He was always in a great mood, and he always lifted my spirits when he would stop by the weather office. He was truly a great person, and will be sorely missed by all who knew him, including myself.

Jen Zygai

March 20, 2009

I was so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.

March 20, 2009

Dear Rita and Don's family
Fred and I will miss him and his great sense of humor. Don was one of a kind
never to be duplicated. Fred and Don's "My Gal Sal" otherwise known as the Vossburgs

Mary (Mink) Nagel

March 20, 2009

I was very sorry to hear of Don's passing.

Gina, we have such great memories of your dad! I'll never forget our trips to Cedar Point. How did he put up with our Duran Duran music? He worked us hard--pulling ivy and raking leaves, but he paid us well! Remember when he thought Geddy Lee was a chick?

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Paul Tate

March 20, 2009

My condolences on Don's passing. He was a great guy and provided great leadership to NABET local 28 over the years. His dedication to Erie broadcasting influenced many young talents. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Barb Smith Ruscitto

March 20, 2009

I will forever be grateful to Don for taking a chance and hiring a girl. It was 1979 and Don gave me my first job...camerawoman for The Jeanne Carnes Show. For the next three years...many newscasts, commercial shoots, "PM Magazine" shows later...he was always the steady calm, so good at thinking on his feet, and always with a touch of humor. One of those guys you think back on your career and smile about.

Wishing you all strength and peace in the days ahead.

Paul Gibbens

March 20, 2009

To the family of Don Rowe, I would like to share some great memories of Don, "My First Boss"

"Donny Baby" pronounced Don - E - Baby. I owe my career to Don, back in 1985 he gave me a great opportunity to stay at WSEE and enter into the world of Commercial production.

Don had many, what I call, “Rowizumz” and I would like to share them with you, I’m sure many of you who had the pleasure of working with/for Don will remember them fondly. (please feel free to add more yourself)

1. “where you been BOYYYY? The Ashtabula Taco Bell?)

2. “Wanna go campin’?

3. “whhaaooom” that’s what he said when he through his lit cigarette butt under the production van in the back lot. I scared the daylights out of him one time when he threw one out, I popped a balloon behind him sending him 3 feet in the air. I think he quit smoking the next day. LOL

4. “you know what today is don’t you BOYYY? It’s Friday, and you know what we do on Friday’s don’t you? . . . . We wait til Monday when we MOOOOVEEE IT OUT!”

Donny baby, I’ll miss you.
Gibbo Baby.

Roger Scarlett

March 20, 2009

In my 12 years at WSEE, Don was one of the highlights. Never one to get flustered under pressure...always the gentle sense of humor...just a great guy to work with. My condolences to his family during this time of your loss.

Nancy&Darwin Rowe

March 19, 2009

Our sympathy goes out to you all. Warm thoughts are flowers of the heart. We are thinking of you today! May your memories give you comfort. Nan and Darwin

Mike Shannon

March 19, 2009

So sorry to hear about Don's passing. He was one of the greatest bosses I ever had in television. I worked with him right up until he retired and he maintained an unbelieveable sense of humor. I'll miss him

Lisa Nietupski & Family

March 19, 2009

To Rita and all of Don's family, you and Don are in my prayers. Don was one of the people who made WSEE a great place to be. I'm so sorry that he was sick for so long. What a wonderful man.

Connie Moser

March 19, 2009

So sorry to hear about Don's passing. He was always a pleasure to work with at WSEE-TV. Sincere condolences to Rita and the family.

Jim Soli

March 19, 2009

Hey Don, I worked for you at WSEE and I cut your hair and Judy's hair and we were friends for a long time. I'll miss seeing you. Give Dewart my best when you get to the other side! Your Buddy, Jim Soli

Jim Deitch

March 19, 2009

I worked with Don for many years at WSEE. Back in Feb of 1980, Don was the first person to hire me in the crazy business of television. I still work in the industry and have Don to thank for it. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to thank him. He always tried to make work interesting and fun, though I was probably a thorn in his side at times. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Rita and their families.

Ron Seggi

March 19, 2009

My most sincere sympathy goes to the family of Don. He was a talented and gentle man. His help and friendship that I shared with him, when I did television commercials in Erie, will always be in my memories. It was always a pleasure when he was on the project. Don was one of a kind and I am so sorry to hear of his passing. He was terrific.

Gary Laurnoff

March 19, 2009

My sincere condolences to Don's famiy.

John Agostini

March 19, 2009

To all of the Rowe family,
Donny was a good person. He would always come in to the Maennerchor Club and have good conversation with me every day. He will be missed by all. You have my deepest sympathy.

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