Michael Carow

Jeff Carow of Damascus, Maryland, died of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) on Thursday, April 23, 2020.  He is survived by his wife of 32 years Shelley M. (Lane) Carow, two step-daughters Patricia A (Wood) Izzo of North Port Florida (husband Rich Izzo and children Brandon Lowe, Jillian Izzo and Grace Izzo); Melissa S (Susie; Wood) Van Haren (husband Brandon and children Nicholas and Charlotte Van Haren) of Jacobus, Pennsylvania and his son Shelby Douglas Carow of Silver Spring, Maryland.  Jeff has numerous nieces and nephews, grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Jeff was born in Washington DC to Ruth F and Glenn Carow.  He was the ‘baby’ of the family.  He was raised in the Glen Echo area of Maryland with his family and always stated he has the best childhood. Jeff was the first graduating class of Walt Whitman High School.  He attended American University and received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Jeff was previously married to Margot Gressman for 13 years and an adopted son Michael Carow of Mt. Airy, Maryland.

Jeff was employed for over 32+ years at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) until his retirement in 2000.  His career at NIH was in grants management.  Starting out at the Nursing Institute as a clerk and rose to become the Chief Grants Management Officer of the National Institute of Nursing.  His experiences over the years at various IC’s of NIH gave him a wealth of information about all aspects of grants management, a fact well appreciated by coworkers and upper management often relied on his “institutional memory” when seeking advice.  This included his wife.

Away from NIH Jeff was an accomplished musician.  He started singing and playing guitar at the age of 7.  At the age of 12 his first band gig was at the American Legion playing Elvis songs with his band.  The American Legion attendee’s ‘passed the hat’ and a collection was created for the band that night.  That event start a gift and desire for Jeff to play for others.  Jeff also performed with the 125 piece Foundry Methodist Church Singers and Combo Symphony Orchestra, direct by his Father Glenn Carow.  He also belonged to the Children’s Choir at Foundry, his mother Ruth Carow was the director.  Jeff’s talent for remembering lyrics, chords and could harmonize with any singer astounded musicians alike.  Jeff voice was as pure and sweet as if from heaven.  There is no doubt that Jeff is playing and singing in the best band, ever.

Jeff is preceded in death by his mother, Ruth Fulton Carow and his father Glenn B Carow, his two identical twin brothers Ronald Carow and Jon (Ric) Carow (Roberta), and his sister Bonnie (Carow) La Plante (Arden).

Services will be held privately.

Please no flowers or gifts.  If you want to donate, in lieu of any gift, the family requests charitable contributions in the memory of Michael "Jeff" Carow be made to

BRAIN SUPPORT NETWORK

BSN- a non profit charity that helps families accomplish brain donation

P.O. Box 7264, Menlo Park, CA 94026

Fax: 650-233-9278

Web: brainsupportnetwork.org

Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com.