Richard "Rick" Rowe

Richard N. Rowe
Old Orchard Beach
Richard "Rick" Rowe, 72, of Old Orchard Beach, passed on July 23, 2024 at Maine Medical Center in Portland. He was born May 10, 1952, in Lynn, Massachusetts, son of Norman and Marie (Callahan) Rowe.
Rick was educated and graduated from Lynn Classical High School, class of 1970. He went on to receive his nursing degree from the Lynn Hospital School of Nursing. Rick began his working career at Union Hospital, and it was there he met the love of his life, Gaye Campbell. They were married on October 23, 1976, and began their new lives together in Salem. A year later they relocated to Merrimack, MA. In 1981 they joyfully welcomed their first child, Liana.
In 1983 Rick commissioned in the United States Air Force and soon moved his family to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where they welcomed their second child, James. Some of his fondest memories from the Air Force came from working in the operating room at Wilford Hall. During his 11 year military career he served at Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York, and deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm.
After being honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1994, Rick and Gaye moved their family to Oklahoma where he continued his successful career as a nurse at the VA Hospital, compassionately caring for patients for 23 years until his retirement. Rick was awarded with Nurse of The Year for a region that spanned five states.
Upon his retirement, Rick and Gaye made their last move to Old Orchard Beach, Maine, where they became an integral part of the community and made many close friends.
Rick had interests that were wide-spread, with New England sports at the top of his list. He religiously followed the Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, and Red Sox. He enjoyed keeping up with current events that he read in the newspaper, and was a master at crossword puzzles.
Most of all, Rick loved spending time with his family. He would mention that his proudest moments were his marriage to Gaye, and the birth of their children. He would be best described as an incredibly kind, compassionate and generous man by all that knew him. He will be dearly missed.
Rick is survived by his loving wife, Gaye Rowe; by his daughter Liana Hawk and husband Ryan; by his son James Rowe and wife Erin; by his four grandchildren, Emma Hope-Ann Rowe-Hawk, Liam James Rowe, Haley Nicole Hawk, and Lori Lyn Hawk as well as many nieces and nephews.
Rick was preceded in death by his mother, father and sister, Barbara Lessard.
Visiting Hours will be from 11:00am to 1:00pm, with a funeral service beginning at 1:00pm on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at Cote Funeral Home Chapel, Saco, Maine. A private burial will take place at a later date in Laurel Hill Cemetery.
If you would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers, please consider supporting the following organizations in his memory:
Any local "no-kill" animal shelter
Any worthy veteran organization or homeless shelter
St. Judes Hospital