Ronald V. Row

Ronald Victor Row, age 97, of Lincoln, MA, died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on November 28, 2023.
He is survived by his daughters Elizabeth of Arlington, VA, and Mary Gravely (Winston) of Richmond, VA; sons Frank (Deedee) of Chelmsford, MA, and Gordon (Leslie) of Groton, MA; ten grandchildren, Heather Williams, Ronnie Row, Robert Jennings Spangle, W. Jacob Spangle, Kelsey Row, Delaney Row, Harrison Gravely, Eva Gravely, Tristan Row and Georgia Row, three great-grandchildren and multiple nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his loving wife of 61 years, Jane (Eager) Row, and his daughter Katherine Victoria Row.
Ron was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the third son of the late Victor and Elfreda (Wismer) Row. He graduated from McGill and Harvard Universities and settled in Lincoln, where he and Jane raised five children and two grandchildren. He was a long-time member of St. Anne's in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club, and was a founding member of the Lincoln-Sudbury Civic Orchestra in 1973.
Ron's life was filled with a love of adventure and the outdoors, which he instilled in all his children. Family life was studded with camping trips, hiking, winter sports and above all sailing. After owning a series of smaller boats, Ron purchased a larger sailboat, the Victor, to allow his entire family to travel along the Maine coast during long stretches of the summer. These were very special times, and Ron delighted in both celestial wayfinding and the challenge of daytime sailing through pea soup fog with Jane as navigator.
Early in life, Ron displayed a keen affinity for mathematics. Prior to attending McGill University, he devoted his summer to learning Calculus. Following his McGill years, he pursued a doctoral degree in physics at Harvard University. To make certain Harvard was a good fit, he rode his single speed bike festooned with makeshift panniers (courtesy of his mother), from Montreal across the White Mountains of New Hampshire to Cambridge. Camping roadside and in whatever youth hostel would accept him, he completed the four-day journey ready to begin the next chapter of his life. During his time at Harvard, he was fortunate to have taken a liking to a rather attractive and brilliant lab partner who later became his wife. After completing his degree, he taught for several years at Harvard and then worked as an applied physicist for GTE Sylvania before becoming a consultant to a number of technology companies.
In addition to playing violin in the Lincoln-Sudbury Civic Orchestra for many years, Ron was also a self-taught pianist. His strong sight-reading allowed him to play nearly anything on the piano on demand. Scott Joplin and Rodgers & Hammerstein tunes regularly permeated the Row house, to everyone's delight.
A devoted family man and community member, Ron was beloved by a large extended family and many others who knew him. He touched many lives and will be greatly missed but his influence will live on.
Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours at Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord, MA on Thursday, December 14th from 4 to 7 pm. A funeral service in celebration of Ron's life will take place at St. Anne's in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, 147 Concord Road, Lincoln on Friday, December 15th at 11:00am, immediately followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. Services will conclude with burial at Lincoln Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Appalachian Mountain Club, 10 City Square, Boston, MA 02129 or St. Anne's in-the-Fields, P.O. Box 6, Lincoln, MA 01773.
Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.