Warren Elliot Rowe died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on August 23, 2017. The world lost a man of the highest character and most generous spirit on that day.
He was born in Brooklyn, NY on October 4, 1926 to Anna Beatrice (Clayton) and Warren Joseph Rowe. Warren had a brother Kenneth and a sister Jean who are both deceased.
At 16, Warren joined the work force at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and in 1965, upon the closing of the shipyard, he was transferred to Supervisor of Shipbuilding in Groton, CT where he was the Repair Officer. He retired from federal government civil service in 1991 after working for 48 years.
During that time, he served our country for over 38 years in the Naval Reserve and retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer (Hull Technician). Warren is a World War II veteran and received various unit, service and campaign awards to include three Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medals.
He always put family first. He very rarely missed his children’s, grandchildren’s or great grandchildren’s sports events, school assemblies, graduation ceremonies, birthdays and weddings.
Warren was married to his childhood sweetheart and best friend Alice (Spadafora) for 72 years. They have lived in North Stonington, CT for the last 53 years.
In addition to his wife, Warren is survived by two daughters, Patricia Dinwoodie and Linda Shea, both from Pawcatuck, CT and a son Wayne Rowe and his wife Cathy from Tiverton, RI. His 9 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren with one more due any day now were his pride and joy. He also had many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Warren was a member and past president of the North Stonington Lions Club. He also was a member of the US Navy Memorial and the American Legion Post 152, in addition to being a communicant of St. Thomas More Church.
Warren had a passion for traveling, especially on cruise ships, and was an avid scuba diver and golfer.
Warren travelled to Haiti to help care for the poor through the Catholic Charities’ Haiti missions.
In addition, he loved to watch the New York Yankees and the University of Connecticut’s women’s championship basketball team.
For the last five years, who would have thought that Miss Tracy, a little Maltipoo, would steal Warren’s heart and bring him so much happiness and joy.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, August 29, from 5 to 8pm at the Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Mystic. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 30 at 11:00am at St. Thomas More Church, 87 Mystic Road, North Stonington. Burial with military honors will immediately follow in Elm Grove Cemetery, 197 Greenmanville Avenue, Mystic.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Warren be sent to the American Heart Association https://donatenow.heart.org or the American Diabetic Association https://donations.diabetes.org.
Thank you for your loving support, it is deeply appreciated.
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