William “Bill” Rowand Capie, Jr.

William “Bill” Rowand Capie, Jr., 83, passed to glory Monday, December 8, 2025, in Vero Beach, Florida.  Born on May 17, 1942, in Barrington, New Jersey, he lived most of his life in Athens, Georgia, moving to Vero Beach in his later retirement years.

Bill was a dedicated educator who devoted his career to advancing teacher education.  He received his undergraduate education at Trenton State College and Columbia University, and earned his doctorate in education from the University of Houston. As a Fulbright Scholar he conducted an evaluation of teacher education in Portugal, in addition to lecturing in England, Madrid and Tel Aviv. He moved to Athens, Georgia, where he pursued his life’s work as a professor in science education, influencing countless students and teachers throughout his distinguished career.

He was the director of the Performance Assessment Laboratory at the University of Georgia and pioneered the development of the Teacher Performance Assessment Instrument, a state certification subject-matter examination for public school teachers.  Bill’s recognized expertise with teacher assessments led to a grant from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to create a system of national certification for highly accomplished teachers in the same way that physicians and architects are recognized with board certification.  Over the course of his career Bill secured over $18 million in contracts at the state and national levels related to teacher evaluation.  His work touched every teacher in the state of Georgia. In addition, Georgia’s teacher assessment system was emulated by other states.

A man of faith, Bill was a member of the Community Church of Vero Beach, and a devoted member of the Faithful Followers Bible Study, where he found fellowship and spiritual nourishment.

An accomplished amateur photographer, Bill found joy and creative expression behind the camera lens.  He spent countless hours capturing and editing his digital photos, with a particular passion for the colorful birds of Florida. His keen eye and endless patience resulted in stunning images that reflected both his artistic ability and his deep appreciation for nature.  His photographic excellence was recognized through numerous awards over the years.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy; his daughter, Lauren; son, Michael; stepson Alex; stepdaughter-in-law, Katherine; five grandchildren (William, Haylee, Will, Katie Grace and Jake); one great-granddaughter, Charlotte; sister, Linda; brother-in-law, Mark; and his many nieces and nephews.  He was pre-deceased by his mother, Clara; father, William, Sr.; and his brothers, Bruce and Joey.  Bill cherished his family, making sure every birthday was celebrated with one of his characteristically funny cards.

A memorial service will be held in the chapel at Community Church of Vero Beach, 19^th Avenue and 1901 23^rd Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960, on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 11:00 AM.

Those wishing to honor Bill’s memory may make contributions to the Pelican Island Audubon Society (please include in the notes section that the contribution is in memory of Bill Capie: https://pelicanislandaudubon.org

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.