Gerald Rowley

Gerald Leroy Rowley Obituary

May 6, 1938 – February 3, 2026

Dr. Gerald L. Rowley, “Jerry”, 87, of San Diego, California, passed away on February 3, 2026. He was born in New York and grew up in Tarrytown for the first 9 years, and then moved to Van Nuys, California. He attended Van Nuys High School and then graduated from UCLA with a BS in Chemistry. He then earned his PhD from UC Berkeley.

Jerry began his career as a research engineer at Rocketdyne before transitioning into pharmaceutical chemistry, where he served for many years as a Senior Research Scientist with Syva (Syntex), Sclavo, UCSF, and Quidel.

At Syva (Syntex), he invented novel homogeneous immunoassay techniques and established and led the company’s Dipstick Immunoassay program, work that proved foundational to modern rapid diagnostic and home pregnancy testing technology. At UCSF, he published research that enhanced the stability and study of key HIV enzymes, advancing early antiviral drug research during the AIDS epidemic.

Jerry loved science, making rockets, meteorology, nature, backpacking, camping in the Sierras, and astronomy. He traveled to Hawaii, Australia, Wyoming, and Ohio to witness total solar eclipses and especially enjoyed experiencing them with family.

For fun, he also enjoyed blackjack and teaching his kids how to play the game.

Jerry was a family man and loved having five children and 13 grandchildren. He said that being married and having children was the highlight of his life. He took wonderful family photographs and took the family on many wonderful camping and backpacking trips to places like Green Lake in the High Sierras, Mount Lassen, and the desert.
Jerry was a loving father to Ingrid (Steve) Perata, Irene Rowley, Jim Rowley, Michael Rowley, and Walter (Kristine) Rowley. Jerry was also survived by his sister Carol (Larry) Purciel, and 12 grandchildren: Dion Windom, Alex Perata, D'Sean Windom, Michael Perata, Jordyn Windom, Aiden Rowley, Logan Perata, Jada Rowley, Mitchell Rowley, Malachi Rowley, Paetyn Rowley, and Rain Rowley. Jerry was preceded in death by one grandson, Nicholas Perata, his parents Leroy and Ruth (Parrot) Rowley, and his sister Marlene Dean.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Nature Conservancy, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203, or Americares Foundation, 88 Hamilton Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902-3105, in memory of Gerald Rowley.