George Dexter Troy Rowe, Jr. (Troy) was the eldest child born to George Preston Theophelus Rowe and Barbara Eleanor Gill, on October 21, 1970, in Georgetown, Guyana. He emigrated to the United States with his parents just before his second birthday. The family initially settled in New York City. Troy’s parents, both registered professional nurses, and subsequently, his father became an advanced practice nurse anesthetist, worked hard to provide the best life possible for their family. Troy shared his childhood with two additional siblings, Connie and Brian. Connie sadly predeceased him in 1988. The family moved to Uniondale, New York, where his parents and brother Brian currently reside. Troy had an outgoing, engaging spirit. He participated in multiple activities growing up, including Boy Scouts and playing on his schools' sports teams. He attended Boston University, a period of time that was often recounted with great fondness. He embraced life fully, taking advantage of all that Boston had to offer. After graduation, Troy returned to New York, where he ultimately met and married Lora Lynn Elmore. This union blessed him with a son on March 6, 2004, Ryan Michael Troy Rowe, who was the light of his life. As a proud father, Troy treasured each moment spent with his son and was easily able to recount each special memory shared with him, regardless of how obsolete it may have appeared. Troy was a gifted educator who used his talents to impart knowledge primarily to high school biology students. He spent countless hours devising creative ways to captivate and engage his students. Many of the young men and women Troy taught regarded him as a mentor and maintained regular contact with him throughout the years using holiday cards and social media to update him on their lives. Troy transferred his love of knowledge acquisition into the home by encouraging Ryan to seek out answers to questions and employ reasoning and practical skills when problem-solving.

In 2014 on a warm summer's day, Troy married Barbara Anne Werner on the beach on Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Troy, Barbara, and Ryan, often along with Troy's parents, enjoyed many vacations. Great care was taken to plan these family expeditions to ensure everyone got a voice in devising the itinerary. A lifetime of love was condensed into five and a half years. Troy and Barbara shared many interests most of all, which included traveling and what Troy often dubbed as the “acquisition of useless bits of knowledge." He was known as a virtual walking encyclopedia, which ceaselessly made Barbara laugh and burst with pride. Troy had an infectious laugh and an illuminating smile. He often commanded a room simply by entering it. His quick wit, charm, and quest for justice and fairness for all, were an embodiment of his personality. He loved his family and cared deeply for his friends and colleagues. May the life of George Dexter Troy Rowe continue to live on through the many lives that he has touched. His time on earth was heartbreakingly short, but his mark on the lives of others, especially that of his son, is indelible. Rest in peace, my beloved husband, I will love you always.