UConn lost its beloved ambassador and the New England basketball community lost a legend on Sunday when Donald "Dee" Rowe passed away at his home in Storrs.

Rowe was 91.

During his long and distinguished career, Rowe spent 53 years working for the UConn Athletic Department in various roles, including serving as the men's basketball coach from 1969-77.

Rowe meant so much to so many in UConn's extended family and beyond.

"UConn Nation is grieving the loss of an icon...," athletic director David Benedict said during a Zoom call on Sunday. "I feel totally inadequate to be able to fully express what Dee meant to the University of Connecticut. But Dee will be forever woven into the fabric and a part of who we are and what we stand for.

"... He's a one-of-a-kind individual. There will never be another ambassador for the University of Connecticut like Dee Rowe."

Rowe's impact on UConn athletics was far-reaching.

He had a hand in hiring both Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma, the former as head coach of the men's program and latter as head coach of the women's team. They went on to win multiple national championships and both were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

"Dee Rowe has been a special person in my life for the 50 plus years that I've known him and admired him — both as a great basketball coach and an even better person," Calhoun said. "He was a New England original — the Governor of New England — born in Worcester, moved to Storrs, loved the Cape and never left. ... I will always treasure his friendship, his constant wise counsel, and his continuing encouragement."

Auriemma got emotional while talking about Rowe, who used to regularly attend men's and women's basketball practices. He added that players considered Rowe their personal cheerleader.

"I've been fortunate to know Dee for my entire career here at Connecticut dating back to my very first trip ever to Connecticut (in 1985) to meet the search committee and have lunch with coach Rowe," Auriemma said. "Since that day, he's been a father to me.

"... It's just such a cruel twist of fate that Dee should pass during these times because I really don't think Rentschler Field would be big enough to host an event for Dee because people would be arriving from around the world. ... And basketball was just one part of the impact that Dee had, admittedly a large part. But he was so much more than just a basketball coach."

Auriemma fondly recalled holding a birthday celebration for Rowe after a practice one day.

Rowe wore a hat that the team made for him and danced around the room.

"Dee being Dee, he had to make sure he kissed every single girl on the team," Auriemma said. "He just had the time of his life, dancing and skipping around the room with the joy of a Kindergarten kid at a birthday party. And yet he could shake hands with the president of the United States and feel right at home."

A native of Worcester, Rowe took great pride in being a small town guy. He played basketball at Worcester Academy and Middlebury College. As coach at Worcester Academy, he won nine New England Prep School Championships.

He accomplished a great deal in his professional career, including receiving the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's prestigious John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award. Previous winners included Hall of Famer Bob Cousy, one of his close friends.

"Dee Rowe is one of God's children," Cousy said in a release. "His entire life he has reached out to assist others. He is as saintly as any friend I've ever had and the game of basketball has given Dee a vehicle to do his magic."

After coaching at UConn, Rowe became heavily involved with fundraising for the athletic department and helped bring in millions of dollars in private donations to support the building of Gampel Pavilion. After retiring in 1991, he served in an emeritus role as a Special Adviser for Athletics.

When Rowe wasn't attending a practice or game at UConn, he was active on the guest speaker circuit, doing anything he could to help out friends in need.

People that Rowe touched with his kindness and generous spirit paid tribute over social media on Sunday.

UConn football coach Randy Edsall wrote on Twitter: "Today we lost a LEGEND in Coach Dee Rowe. He was always there for me WIN, LOSE or TIE with encouragement, words of wisdom and knowledge. I'll miss those Friday night visits before the game."

Assistant basketball coach Tom Moore had this to say about Rowe in a text message.

"He was a man of such grace and class," Moore said. "And he loved the things he loved — his wife Ginny and their children, the city of Worcester, UConn, and basketball coaches everywhere. I've never met anyone in our profession who cared more about other coaches. He knew the challenges of the job and the toll it can take on coaches and their families.

"No one ever respected the job more or cared deeper about the people who did it."

Virginia (Ginny), Rowe's wife of 64 years, passed away in July 2018.

g.keefe@theday.com