JoAnn Rowe passed peacefully at her home in Naples, Florida, on Feb. 15, 2021. She faced a long illness with courage and grace. JoAnn was preceded in death by her loving husband, Harry Rowe; her mother, Rose Boccanfuso, and her brother, Patrick Ragonese. JoAnn is survived by her brothers, Anthony Boccanfuso, William Ragonese and their families; her sisters, Celeste Lan Franchi, Donna Cheney and their families; in-laws, Beth Errickson, Alice Scruby, Marcus Rowe III, William Gregory Burkett and their families, along with many other extended family and friends.
JoAnn was the oldest of seven children and was always a pillar of support for all of her siblings. JoAnn and her family came from very humble beginnings and JoAnn had a vision of success through education. She could not afford to go to college full-time so she got a job in the typing pool at CitiBank and attended Pace College at night. She eventually graduated with honors and rose through the ranks at CitiBank to become an Executive Vice President.

Her banking career took an unexpected turn when she met and married an adventurous sea captain in the late 1970s. JoAnn and Captain Harry A. Rowe were married 37 years. Together, they moved South and renovated his family home on Lady Cove in Gloucester, Virginia. JoAnn retired from CitiBank a few years later to join her husband on the high seas. They traveled all over the world on commercial ships under Captain Harry’s command.

JoAnn then went back to school to earn her master’s degree and began her second career in banking with Bank of America becoming a regional Vice President. After a few years, both JoAnn and Harry retired full-time from work. Retirement led them both to exploring the U.S. and Canada in a motor home. JoAnn and Harry made friends wherever their adventures took them. They split their time between Naples and Gloucester for many happy years. After Harry’s death in 2017, JoAnn moved to Naples full-time where she continued to enjoy her treasured friends and family.
JoAnn will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her family and friends. A memorial gathering will be held later this year.