In memory of John W. Rowe, a University Regent and former chair of the Board of Trustees, the university installed black draping at Rowe Village and on the University Regents Tribute Wall in The McCormick Tribune Campus Center. 

John W. Rowe provided wise counsel, inspirational leadership, and transformational philanthropic support to the university. 

John served on the Board of Trustees for 18 years, and served as chair of the board from 2006–13. He led the search for former university President John Anderson, and served as co-chair of Fueling Innovation: The Campaign for IIT, which concluded in 2016 after raising more than $250 million, including funding to support the creation of the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship and the restoration efforts of John T. Rettaliata Engineering Center and the Robert A. Pritzker Science Center. He demonstrated a profound and steadfast belief in the future of Illinois Tech; was an enthusiastic leader; garnered business and civic support for the university; and supported Illinois Tech’s students, faculty, and administrative leaders.

Illinois Tech became one of John’s highest philanthropic priorities. The generosity of John and Jeanne Rowe has touched every area of the university through support of scholarships, student success efforts, faculty endowed chairs and fellows, programmatic initiatives, and capital projects. In 2020 the State Street Village residence hall was renamed Jeanne and John Rowe Village in honor of the Rowe family’s extraordinary generosity.

John’s leadership and philanthropic support were also acknowledged when he was honored with Illinois Tech’s highest recognition: being named a University Regent. He also received Illinois Tech’s prestigious Henry Townley Heald Award for his contributions to humanity and the Illinois Tech Alumni Association’s Galvin Award, named for fellow University Regent Robert W. Galvin and given to the university’s most generous non-alumni benefactors.

The impact that John leaves on our university and his contributions to humanity will last for generations. The whole Illinois Tech community will miss him dearly, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and all those who were influenced by his legacy of service.