Builders honor retiring director
Builders from across the Hudson Valley came to the Hilton Garden Inn in Newburgh Sept. 14, to thank Jean Rowe for two decades of tireless work on their behalf. She retired from the Builders Association of the Hudson Valley, in July.
Rowe was praised for her dedicated service in building the BAHV to a 750-member strong organization and getting a headquarters built for the group in New Windsor. “You will really be missed,” said Peter Nurzio, 2010 BAVH president. “You”™ve been an inspiration to everyone in this room.”
When she wasn”™t busy advocating for local builders, Rowe volunteered hundreds of hours to collect children”™s books during the holiday season and did fundraising for the Maria Fareri Children”™s Hospital, Miles of Hope Cancer Foundation and the BAHV Scholarship Foundation.
Rowe, moved to tears by the well wishers who packed the room, said she”™s not sure what she”™ll do with herself now that she”™s retired from the builder”™s association. She did tell the audience to “hang on, despite the economy. Housing will come back. We just have to wait it out.”