Kevin McGowan

Dr. Kevin McGowan - 62, of North Potomac, Maryland passed away on December 17, 2025. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Renée McGowan, his two children, Emily and Joseph, his brother, Terry, and his sister, Jo-Anne Gutsch (née McGowan). Kevin was born on November 23, 1963, in Long Branch, New Jersey and received his PhD in biochemistry from East Carolina University. He completed his postdoctoral research in molecular biology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Kevin spent the majority of his career at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) where he worked for nearly two decades as a Senior Scientist and Shared Resource Director in Cell and Molecular Biology, getting to do what he loved and was passionate about every day. Kevin was both a mentor and friend to his colleagues at HHMI.

Kevin will be remembered not only for his unrivaled intelligence, but his humor, making those around him laugh and always finding the humor even in the toughest of situations. He was proud to be born in New Jersey loving Bruce Springsteen, Delicious Orchards, and the Holmdel Boys, his closest friends of over fifty years. The things he was passionate about, University of Maryland Sports, the New York Giants, golf, and his daily crossword puzzles, received special care and attention; each one its own experiment that was refined by his touch and wisdom.

When people think of Kevin, they will remember what an amazing brother, brother-in-law, and uncle he was to all his nieces and nephews. Kevin will be remembered for the wonderful father he was to Emily and Joseph and what an incredible husband he was to his wife, Renée, the yin to his yang. Kevin was deeply invested in Emily and Joseph’s interests leading Joe’s basketball team, the Tropics, to countless championships, attending every one of Joseph’s lacrosse games, and attending all of Emily’s musicals and plays. Kevin loved vacations with his family, traveling around the world from Vail to Lake Como, but no place was as dear to Kevin’s heart as Clearwater, Florida and Ocean City, Maryland. Renée and Kevin frequented Ocean City every opportunity they could. We find comfort in knowing that Kevin's legacy lives on through the lessons he taught us, the love he shared, and the memories we will cherish forever.

Funeral services will be held on December 23, 2025, at 10:00 am at Our Lady of the Visitation Parish (Darnestown, MD) followed by a gathering at 11:30 am.