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33 years of Outstanding Academic Achievement
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Michael Paul Rowe 1964 -2000

Michael Paul Rowe, Class of 1980

 

A Memorial For Michael Paul Rowe--“The Pilgrim”
For twenty years Michael Paul Rowe battled a debilitating mental disease called bipolar disorder, more commonly known as manic depression. The disease was relentless, plunging Paul into deep, dark depressions or euphoric, irrepressible mania. In a poem entitled, “I Will Not Give Up,” Paul captured his torment and hope:

“What is it like,
This fight I face?
Like a football on a field,
Kicked around from side to side,
Bruised, damaged, scoffed—So am I.

Like a yo-yo on a string,
Up one moment, down another
Never stable, never still.
The peaks, the valleys,
To them both I swing,
No rest for me it seems.

But I will not give up!
Fight with my might shall I…”


It was because of Paul’s personal fight against mental illness that he became aware of the other silent wars being waged by the poor, the sick, the dying and the innocent. His battle cry, “I will not give up,” resonated among them all—particularly the innocents at New Hope Children’s Home in Mandeville, Jamaica (www.newhopechildren.com).

Every week, Paul would visit these little ones, from newborn to five-years-old, taking treats, playing with some and simply holding others. These children are all innocent victims of circumstances - some were the result of incest or rape; others were found abandoned. No matter their background, Paul showed them unconditional love and acceptance.

On the day after Paul’s funeral, we visited the New Hope Children’s Home and discovered a world of need.  Although we are unable to provide these newborns and toddlers with families to love and care for them, we can help in other ways. In addition to their insatiable need for diapers and formula, the old washing machine at the New Hope Children’s Home had stopped working. Loads of cloth diapers and baby clothing must now be washed by hand-- an arduous and time-consuming task.

We are going to make a donation to the New Hope Children’s Home, and we hope to raise enough money to buy a new washing machine for the children, and perhaps more.  If you would like to contribute please see the instructions below.  You should feel free to give as much or as little as you like.  




Excerpt from “I Will Not Give Up”
Michael “Pilgrim” Rowe
January 8, 1964 to June 20, 2001

“O God, it is odd but true,
That in my hour of great need,
Your love for me appears more real,
Not hidden behind some veil are you,
But near despite the storms that brew,
My Lord abideth – yes.

So content am I to sing Thy praise,
And rest within your arms,
And not despair, nor lose my hope,
As the Devil would intend.
Secure in Thee I stand,
Protected by Thy grace.”


Please make all checks payable to HILLARY ROWE, with “MEMORIAL FOR MICHAEL PAUL ROWE” written in the MEMO section of the check.  

Please mail all checks to the address below, in time to be received by Friday, NOVEMBER 30th, 2001:

Hillary Rowe
“Memorial For Michael Paul Rowe”
735 Bellemeade Ave., #6
Atlanta, GA 30318
USA
Kindly remember to include your full name and mailing address, as well as your email address. Once your check has been deposited and cleared, a receipt will be sent to you via email or airmail.

The washing machine will be purchased on or before January 6, 2002. If a washing machine is no longer needed by the New Hope Children’s Home, or if we receive more money than we need to buy the washing machine, 100% of your donation will be used to purchase diapers, formula, or other food or cleaning supplies for the New Hope Children’s Home.

We will send each contributor a statement of income and expenses showing the total amount contributed and how it has been applied.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
Desmond Rowe (father), Hillary Bernier [sister), Gail Hines (sister) and
Michelle & Andrew Murray (sister and brother-in-law).  
                             




 

 

 

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Belair Alumni Association

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Copyright (c)  2001 Belair Alumni Association
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914-997-6474
info@belairschool.org