Todd Michael (Beals) Rowe

April 21, 1968 – February 6, 2026

Todd Rowe was a devoted father, respected technology leader, and generous friend whose intelligence, curiosity, and quiet kindness left a lasting impression on all who knew him.

With a broken heart, I share that my beloved and only child, Todd, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly from a pulmonary embolism on February 6, 2026, in Seattle, Washington. He was 57 years old.

Todd was born on April 21, 1968, and grew up in Huntington Beach, California, where the ocean and coastal lifestyle shaped the foundation of his life. He attended local schools and graduated from Huntington Beach High School in 1986. Those early years were filled with surfing, biking along the shoreline, Junior Lifeguards, and lifelong friendships formed in the sand and sun of a close-knit beach community.

In 1984, after my marriage to Richard Rowe, PhD, a U.S. History professor at Golden West College, Todd was adopted and took the Rowe name. Rick played an important role in his life, and together they shared a love of surfing and cycling along the California coast.o

Todd pursued his passion for learning through studies in mathematics and computer science at California State University, Long Beach, as well as Orange Coast College and Seattle University. He went on to build a distinguished career in the technology industry, contributing to some of the most influential companies shaping the modern digital world.

He spent nearly two decades at Microsoft, where he held senior leadership roles focused on enterprise technology strategy and the growth of cloud and productivity platforms, including Microsoft 365. He later joined Amazon Web Services, where he worked in modernization strategy and product leadership, helping organizations transition to the cloud. In the later years of his career, Todd served as Vice President and Senior Vice President at Inovalon, leading strategic initiatives that advanced healthcare through data and analytics.

Todd was widely respected for his leadership, his ability to build strong teams, and his commitment to innovation and excellence.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Todd’s greatest pride and joy was his family.

He and his wife, Lesa—the love of his life—built a beautiful home and life together, raising their daughters in Southern California and later in the Pacific Northwest. Their home was filled with warmth, laughter, and connection, often bringing together friends and family for celebrations, pool parties, and shared moments that became lasting memories.

Todd loved life on the water. Whether surfing, paddleboarding, boating, skiing, or traveling to places like Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Whistler, he embraced adventure and treasured time spent with those he loved.

He was immensely proud of his daughters—Lauren, Megan, and Nicole—each of whom reflects his intelligence, determination, and creative spirit in her own way. Lauren has devoted herself to nonprofit service in Seattle, making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Megan earned her engineering degree from Stanford University and has built a career in technology at Microsoft. Nicole, the youngest, is a talented freelance audio engineer and producer based in Los Angeles and a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Together, they are the brightest and most enduring part of his legacy.

Todd also shared his life with beloved family dogs, including Rhodesian Ridgebacks and a Greyhound, who were part of many of the family’s daily adventures.

He lived a life defined by curiosity, determination, generosity, and connection. He brought people together, inspired those around him, and left a mark not only through his work, but through the relationships he built and the life he lived.

The ocean was always part of Todd’s story—from the beaches of Huntington Beach to the waters of the Pacific Northwest—a place where he found joy, peace, and connection.

As his mother, I remember a life that began with just the two of us. I had Todd at 17, and we grew up together. He supported me as I built my life and career, and he filled my world with purpose, pride, and love. He was not only my son—he was my companion and my hero.

I watched him grow up on this sand.

—Mom ❤️

Todd is survived by his beloved wife, Lesa, and their daughters Lauren, Megan, and Nicole, who were the greatest joy of his life.

Lastly, he is survived by his stepfather, Bryan Streelman, who deeply loved Todd and his step-granddaughters.