JOHN MERRIAM ROWLEY passed away May 6, 2024, at the Jack Byrne Center, Lebanon, NH. John was born in Springfield, MA on December 10, 1948, to Freda Canterbury and Douglas Rowley. He graduated from Suffield CT High School and attended Akron University on a soccer scholarship. He later studied photography at Paier School of Art. John was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War era and served two years for Uncle Sam at the Deaconess Hospital in Boston as an orderly.

During high school years, John was a three-sport star, playing soccer, basketball and track, and in 1967 as soccer goalie he had 14 shutouts. He was selected to tour six European countries with the American European Soccer & Cultural Seminar Team, one of only three high school students so honored. In track, he set a school record in the 800 and threw the javelin 171’2” setting a record yet to be broken. After college, John played for the Ukranian Semi-Pro Soccer Team in Dedham, MA for two years. In 2002, John was inducted into the Suffield High Athletic Hall of Fame. From 1986-1992, he founded and coached youth soccer in Saxton’s River, VT.

John said, he was a “Jack of all trades, master of none”. John worked in many trades including stone building, carpentry, brick work and worked many years as a plumber. He had great curiosity and was an avid collector of stamps, vintage kitchen gadgets, tools and many odd patented items with his favorite collection being American patented can openers. He was a member of KOOKS (Kolletors of Old Kitchen Stuff) and the Ephemera Society of America.

John genuinely cared deeply for his friends and family and stayed closely in touch with them with phone calls, texts and visits. He loved meeting new people and conversing endlessly. His favorite place was the Brimfield Antique show where he was a friend to all, a great source of information, and where he enjoyed time spent with antique dealers, collectors and old friends.

John is survived by his wife, Loretta Meserve, son, Seth Rowley and partner, April Earthwood, two grandsons, Grady and Cooper of Cumberland, RI, step-son, Christopher Spita, step-granddaughter, Zoe of Kennebunkport, ME, and step-son, Andrew Spita and partner, Tessa Bernstein, step-granddaughters, Calla and Sadie of Newburyport, MA, and his step-sister, Margie Bacon of South Hampton, MA. He is dearly missed by his three high school buddies of more than 60 years. A true friend to the end.

Donations may be made to the Jack Byrnes Palliative Care and Hospice Center, Lebanon, NH.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Fenton and Hennessey Funeral Home, 55 Westminster Street, Bellows Falls, VT.