Launching a scholarship to help exceptional nurses

“Someday you may need nursing care, so hope that you get a caring nurse.” That’s the greeting from Mr. Rowe’s Christmas card last year. In an unprecedented act of generosity, this widower of an exceptional nurse, asked for family, friends and acquaintances for donations to a nursing scholarship in his late wife’s name – and then matched each contribution personally.

“I know medicine, and I know hospitals, and I picked Saint Mary’s for my own care when I needed it.” – Allan Rowe, retired US Navy, firefighter, paramedic and ski patrolman.

“’Mimi’(Miriam Magnuson Rowe) was such a special person to so many people. She did so much for so little and asked for so little. This was the least I could do to honor her memory.” Allan Rowe explains. “She was a dedicated nurse. And we need nurses badly in this country. This gives me the opportunity to do something to honor Mimi while helping a really good cause.”

Mimi Rowe was a seasoned nursing professional, having started her career unofficially at the tender age of 14. Her father was a Lutheran pastor in a large church in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. When her mother passed away, Mimi was left to care for three younger children.

She met and married Allan after nursing school and they settled in Torrington, Connecticut. Mimi worked in the local hospital in all the departments from intensive care to neonatal. She was a caring, teaching person who took her time with patients. “She was the kind of nurse who would stay overtime to talk to a patient who needed it.” Younger nurses often found themselves taken under Mimi’s wing, finding their way around the hospital and learning how manage patients.

Together, the Rowes jointly operated an ambulance service. “Mimi worked tirelessly. She never said no to the night ambulance runs.” During those years in Torrington, Mimi made many trips to Saint Mary’s Hospital and watched the hospital as it grew to be the community resource it is today.

When Mimi lost her battle to breast cancer in 2008, Allan wanted to pay tribute to her memory by funding a nursing scholarship at Saint Mary’s Hospital. “We need nurses so badly. I thought this would give me an opportunity to make a real contribution and to honor Mimi’s life work simultaneously. And Saint Mary’s Hospital offers the absolute highest level of care and professionalism. They are the best in the country in my opinion.”

Allan sent his yearly Christmas card this year to all of his family, friends and acquaintances asking for their support of Mimi’s scholarship fund. After the donations were totaled, he then matched the donations with his own contribution.

Allan hopes Mimi’s scholarship will enable deserving students to attend nursing school. He only asks them to study hard and to recognize that the learning process continues every day in the nursing field – just by talking and working with patients. “You can’t just read a computer, that’s what Mimi would say.”

Last year, Allan’s experience in health care as a medic in the US Navy, a firefighter, a ski patrolman and now retired paramedic became personal when he learned he himself needed triple bypass surgery. “I chose Saint Mary’s Hospital because I know how health care works after being in the business for many, many years. I’ve been to hundreds of hospitals in this country through my work in the ambulance business. Saint Mary’s is the absolute highest level of care and professionalism – the best in the country in my opinion.”

In a recent conversation, Allan said “I will keep raising money for Mimi’s scholarship until we put 100 nurses through nursing school. We need them!” To support Mimi Magnuson Rowe’s scholarship fund and help fund a deserving student’s nursing education, contact the Foundation Office at 203-709-6390.