John Fairfax | Pioneering rower, 74

John Fairfax, 74, the first known person to row alone across the Atlantic Ocean, died at his Las Vegas-area home.

The self-described "professional adventurer" died Feb. 8 of an apparent heart attack in Henderson, his wife, Tiffany, said Sunday.

Mr. Fairfax gained international attention in 1969 when he became the first person in recorded history to cross the Atlantic alone by rowboat.

In 1972, he and his girlfriend, Sylvia Cook, became the first known people to row across the Pacific Ocean.

Mr. Fairfax wrote books about his ocean crossings that were both published in 1970s.

John Fairfax enjoyed many other adventures, including a trip to the Amazon jungle and a stint as a pirate. He also spoke five languages, was a talented chef, and regularly played baccarat at Las Vegas casinos, his wife said.

Cook, 73, who lives near London, remained lifelong friends with John Fairfax.

"He's always been a gambler," Cook told the New York Times after his death. "He was going to the casino every night when I met him - it was craps in those days. And at the end of the day, adventures are a kind of gamble, aren't they?" - AP