Twenty-five years ago today, Old Johannian Nicholas Charles Alexander Rowe (Clayton 1991) died in the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York City. He was 28, working in the burgeoning tech industry, and at the Twin Towers that morning to deliver a business presentation. He was one of two South Africans killed that day, alongside Craig Gibson.
Nick was born on 17 March 1973. He was a dedicated Johannian and a Pre-Prep Survivor, having attended St John’s from Grade 1 to Matric, spending his College years in Clayton House. He is remembered as a vibrant and fun-loving young man, who was witty, with a big heart and a great sense of humour. He found a home at St John’s despite some academic challenges. The story goes that in Remove (Grade 8), when his parents moved him to a school better suited to his needs, he lasted a week or two before walking out, going straight to the office of the Headmaster, Mr Walter Macfarlane, asking to be re-enrolled at St John’s because he loved his school so much.
Rugby was also one of his great loves at school. He played age group throughout the years, hooker for the second team, and went on to play club rugby when he moved to the US. He was also part of the College Choir and the College Consort during his time at the College.
His life was celebrated at the Old Johannian Annual Gathering in Newport, Rhode Island, on August 17, 2002, a gathering he had regularly attended. That year, following their annual cricket match, the old boys held a remembrance service for their friend.
Nick’s memory has been kept alive at St John’s over the past 25 years, firstly, through the Nick Rowe Memorial Inter-House Sevens Tournament, which was established because of his love of the game. The competition was traditionally played on Gaudy Day each year, and has since moved into the inter-house sports programme, played in the week leading up to Gaudy Day. For many years, Rowe's family members attended the games. In the 2011 edition of The Johannian magazine, the College acknowledged the generosity of the Rowe family in allowing the love for their son to be manifested in such a meaningful and enduring way.
The Nick Rowe Memorial Teacher fund provided financial assistance for an academic support teaching post at St John’s for nearly a decade, until 2011. Nick's parents, Alec and Judy, generously provided this as an expression of their gratitude for the way their son was treated by the College. This was an endeavour to assist other students to benefit as fully from the St John’s educational opportunity as Nick did. The work did not end with the funding, and academic support at St John’s is strong today because of it.
Nick Rowe will continue to be remembered by the boys, past and present, of St John’s College; not only by those who benefited from the academic support, but also each year as the whistle blows at the opening of the Nick Rowe Inter-House Rugby Competition.
