Michigan Tech
Longtime MTU Friend Ken Rowe Dies

Former Board of Control member Kenneth Rowe, whose involvement with Michigan Tech spanned five decades, died Jan. 10 of a stroke at Keweenaw Memorial Medical Center in Laurium.

He was the featured speaker at Midyear Commencement, held Dec. 15. In a press conference that morning, Rowe talked about how pleased he was to have been selected to give the speech.

"I'm so grateful that he had the opportunity to give it and that we had the opportunity to hear him; it was a great speech," Special Events Coordinator Marsha Rosenberg said, adding, "We always enjoyed working him. He was a very gracious man."

President Curt Tompkins said Rowe "was absolutely effective in his job."

"He was extraordinarily involved, because we asked him to, but also when we didn't," Tompkins said. "He was always available to people who wanted to talk to him on campus."

Rowe served on the Board of Control from January 1993 until April 2000. He was vice chair in 1995-96 and chair in 1996-97.

"He was always willing to go the extra mile," said Dale Tahtinen, secretary to the Board and vice president for governmental relations. "There aren't enough superlatives to describe him."

A resident and native of Calumet, Rowe began his college career at Michigan Tech before graduating from the University of Michigan in 1955 with a doctor of medicine degree. After spending two years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, he returned to the Keweenaw in 1959. He worked seven years in private practice before beginning a long and distinguished career in public health.

After earning a master of public health degree in 1967 from the University of Minnesota, he became health officer and medical director of the Western U.P. Health Department, a position he held until his retirement in 1993. During that time, he also directed the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department for 17 years and served one year as acting deputy director and chief medical executive of the Michigan Department of Public Health.

After stepping down from his post as medical director, he coordinated the state's community health assessment of the U.P. from 1994 to 1997.

Rowe was active in MTU athletics. He volunteered as team physician from 1976 to 1993 and was a member of the Athletic Council for 12 years. He was a member of the Huskies Club and the MTU Sports Hall of Fame.

He and wife Margaret loyally attended numerous college and high school basketball, football, hockey and volleyball games and other sporting events. Huskies fans remember him as a longtime volunteer team doctor, who also helped coach area youth hockey teams. As a clarinetist, he also was one of three honorary members of the Pep Band.

"He was at every game," said Athletic Director Rick Yeo. "He was a great fan, too."

A video clip containing Rowe's commencement address is now posted on the Web at http://www.admin.mtu.edu/urel/breaking/2001/commencement.html.

Rowe is survived by his wife, Margaret; one daughter, Karen (Craig) Boggio of Jackson, Wis.; four sons, Vern (Lana) Rowe of Rapid City; Steven (Stephanie) Rowe of Laurium; David (Mary) Rowe of Golden, Colo.; and Thomas (Laura) Rowe of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis; 10 grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family has established the Dr. Ken Rowe Memorial Fund to benefit the community. Donations may be dropped off at any of the Superior National Banks in the area.