The last few days have seen the deaths of many prominent international people of note — Vaclav Havel, Cesaria Evora, Warren Hellman, Kim Jong Il. The Lost Coast Outpost reports with sadness that we have just learned the North Coast has lost local attorney and citizen extraordinaire Thomas Rowe.  

Rowe, a partner with the Arcata-based law firm of Stokes, Rowe, Hamer & Kaufman since 1990, quietly and distinctly served our community with his uncommon wisdom and his understated wit for many years. He was a tireless advocate for seniors, having served on the California Commission on Aging since 2006. Locally, he was a
board member and chair of the Area 1 Agency on Aging.

Rowe was active with a range of local non-profit groups: North Coast Legacy/Leave a Legacy, Six Rivers Planned Parenthood, the San Francisco Senior Center and the Humboldt County Boys and Girls Club, among others.

Rowe earned a bachelor of arts from U.C. Santa Cruz, then went on to study business and accounting at Humboldt State University, where he received his Certified Public Accounting designation. Later he earned a J.D. from Hastings College of Law. 

His insight and commitment to Humboldt County will sorely be missed.