Rowley, Dr. William Francis, Jr. died peacefully on April 8, 2014 at age 83 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He devoted his life to the care of sick children and their families as a pediatrician. He excelled as a clinician, educator, and advocate for children but will be remembered most for his compassion for his patients and his total devotion to his profession.
Bill was born in Oak Park, Illinois on April 25, 1930, the second son of William “Pops” Rowley and Jule (Murnane) Rowley. He graduated from John Carroll University and received his medical degree from Marquette University in 1952. After graduating he began a long distinguished career beginning at Children’s Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University in Chicago. During this time he also served in Ecuador on the SS Hope, the first peace- time hospital ship. He earned his Masters in Public Health from the University of California Berkley in 1970 and then he and his young family moved to the East Coast and he became Chief of Ambulatory Pediatrics at Boston Floating Hospital/Tuft’s New England Medical Center and a professor at Tufts University Medical School. In the late 1970s he left the Boston Floating Hospital for North Shore Children’s Hospital in Salem Massachusetts, where he served as Medical Director. After more than a decade at North Shore Children’s Hospital he retired from practice. It quickly became apparent, however, that he was not yet ready for retirement. At the request of Tufts University he traveled to Saudi Arabia and taught pediatrics there for a short time before returning to Boston to practice at Lynn Community Health Center in Lynn, Massachusetts. He was admired as an educator both at Northwestern University and Tufts Medical School and received Teacher of the Year honors several times. A zealous advocate for children, he worked tirelessly against child abuse and lectured on the topic and its prevention. He cherished his relationships with his patients and their families and maintained lifelong relationships with many. He was beloved by both patients and colleagues for his energy, sense of humor, and willingness to break the rules for his patients -- whether that be a special food, letting a mom hoping to take her sick baby home practice drawing blood on his own sons, or sneaking a puppy in to visit with a ill child.
After his final retirement, he enjoyed volunteering at the Neely House, a center for families to stay when their loved ones are receiving treatment for cancer. He was a devoted father and grandfather to his four children and five grandchildren. He loved spending time with his family, preferably by the water - initially in Ogden Dunes on Lake Michigan, then Humarock, Massachusetts, and Key West, Florida. He instilled in his children and grandchildren a love for swimming, waterskiing, snorkeling and diving, and simply walking the beach. His other loves included convertibles, peanut butter sandwiches, bike riding, and chocolate. His most common greeting -- “What can I do for you?” – was always sincerely meant and totally consistent with his life of service. He was the loving father of Elizabeth Linskey and her husband Christopher of Winchester, William F. Rowley III and his wife Lisa of New York, NY, Carrie Baker and her husband Peter of Winchester, and Peter Rowley and his wife Shannon of Denver, CO. Former husband of Margaret Rowley Moynihan of Winchester. Brother of Kenneth Rowley of Westchester, IL, the late John Rowley and his beloved twin sister Dolores Crowley. Brother-in Law to Mary Rowley and the late William Crowley and the late Dolly Rowley. Adoring grandfather of Matthew Rowley, Caroline Linskey, Jack and William Baker and Hannah Rowley. Beloved uncle to many nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester on Sat. April 12th at 10AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington St., Winchester at 11AM. Visiting hours will be held in the funeral home on Friday from 5-8PM. In lieu of flowers donations in Dr. Rowley’s memory may be made to The Neely House.