Obituary of Robert W Rowe

Robert W. Rowe, of Basking Ridge, NJ passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 18 after a brief illness.  Mr. Rowe served in the US Army from 1943 to 1946 with the 1280th Combat Engineers Battalion in England, France and Germany. The battalion built a floating Bailey Bridge across the Rhine River at Koblenz. He attained the rank of T/5 and was awarded several medals and ribbons for his service. He is an alumnus of Rutgers University where he earned an AB degree in Chemistry and a MS degree in Environmental Science.  Mr. Rowe was employed as the Chief Chemist with the Middlesex County Utilities Authority for 30 years and served as President of the NJ Water Environmental Association from 1980-1982. He later became the Historian of the Association. Mr. Rowe was an accomplished guitarist and a life member of the American Federation of Musicians.  He is survived by his wife of 66 years Ann Rowe (nee Ciorciari) and daughter Pamela Brugal and husband Frank, Claudia Copus and husband David, and his two grandsons whom he adored, Frank Brugal and Brendan Westley. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 S. Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ. For further information please contact the Funeral Home at 908.766.0250 or to light an online condolence candle please visit our website at www.gcfuneralhome.com.