University of Connecticut honors Worcester coaching legend Dee Rowe with statue
In a wonderful tribute to one of Worcester’s most famous sons, the University of Connecticut last week unveiled a statue of the late, great Donald “Dee” Rowe, who, for more than five decades, made his mark in Storrs as a coach, mentor, administrator and ambassador.
The bronze life-size replica of Rowe stands outside one of the entrances to Gampel Pavilion, UConn’s on-campus basketball venue that he helped build during the late 1980s.
Rowe, who passed away in 2021 at age 91, spent more than half of his remarkable life in Connecticut, but, as he always said, he “never really left” his beloved hometown of Worcester.
Rowe was a Worcester Academy alumnus, and he coached the WA boys’ basketball team to nine New England Prep School championships in 13 seasons. He coached baseball at Worcester Academy and served as the school’s director of athletics.
The basketball court inside WA’s Daniels Gymnasium bears Rowe’s name.
Worcester Academy director of athletics Ed Reilly and boys’ basketball coach Jamie Sullivan attended the statue ceremony.
“It was a really festive occasion,” Reilly said.
Several of Rowe’s former UConn players spoke, including Doug Melody, who played on Rowe’s first UConn team in 1969.
“A good coach can change a game,” Melody said. “A great coach can change a life. Dee changed so many lives for the better.”
Rowe’s son, Don, paid honor to his dad.
“There were so many moving tributes,” Reilly said. “I think Don summed it up best when he said that the statue should represent more than the glories of the past. Because of Dee’s personality and his ability to give and to make you feel so special, it should be a great beacon of things to happen, if we can all espouse to be like Dee in the way we build relationships and trust one another and be there for one another.
“Don summed up his dad in such a poignant way,” Reilly said. “There was no one like Dee.”
After eight seasons coaching the UConn men’s basketball team, Rowe helped create the UConn Foundation, the fundraising arm of UConn Athletics. Rowe led the effort to raise $7 million to build Gampel Pavilion. Rowe served as a special adviser to the athletic director for 30 years.
Following the statue unveiling last Monday, the Huskies raised their fifth national championship banner, and, led by Northborough resident Alex Karaban’s career-high 22 points, UConn defeated Northern Arizona, 95-52, in its 2023-24 opener.
Head of the Class
Framingham State sophomore defensive specialist/libero Carly Beaulieu of Sutton averaged 17.7 digs per match with seven service aces in a 3-0 week, and helped the Rams to the MASCAC Tournament title.
WPI senior forward John Adams of Douglas helped the men’s basketball team to a 3-0 start. With 16 points and 15 rebounds against Worcester State, Adams posted his 24th career double-double. Adams averaged 9.5 rebounds in two games of the Ted Coghlin Tournament, and led WPI to the tourney title for the fifth time.
Southern Connecticut State junior guard Marty Silvera of Worcester averaged 20 points on 74% shooting, 7 assists, 3 steals and 4.5 rebounds in the Owls’ first two games of 2023-24.
Holy Cross senior guard Joe Octave averaged 19 points and 7.5 rebounds. Octave poured in a career-high 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in HC’s win at Georgetown.
WPI senior Avi Bissoondial of Millbury finished 14th at the NCAA Division 3 East Regional Cross Country Championship and qualified for the national championship.
Keene State senior Kiley Young of Winchendon won the 200 IM, and was second in the 100 and 200 backstroke in the Owls’ double dual meet against Springfield and Wheaton.
—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: University of Connecticut honors coach, mentor Dee Rowe with statue
