Robert M. Rowlson of West Hartford and Old Saybrook, CT, died surrounded by family on July 25, 2022 after a brief and honorable knock-down, drag-out fight with cancer, likely caused by exposure to Agent Orange. Born in Hartford, CT on January 18, 1949, Rob grew up in Elmwood and was predeceased by his parents John F. and Patricia Rowlson, brother Fred Long, and sister Maryann Rowlson.

At the conclusion of his full tour in South Vietnam (1968-69), Rob was married to Barbara J. (Mosesson) Rowlson and deployed to Key West, FL where they spent the first of 53 years together living off-base and enjoying the spoils of nightly fishing trips on the pier. After four years in the US Navy, Rob and Barbara returned to Connecticut and lived on campus as dorm directors overseeing 300 men and starting their family while he obtained his BS at Central Connecticut State University using his GI Bill.

Following graduation, Rob moved back to West Hartford and began working with his father at Rowlson Co., a real estate appraisal firm based in Newington, CT. Rob believed strongly in service to his community and spent several years actively involved in town politics as a West Hartford Town Council member, public school system volunteer, and youth soccer coach. Rob also served as a member of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, YMCA board, and as a patron and founding board member of the Playhouse on Park. Rob changed careers later in life to work for the Town of West Hartford as the Director of Economic Development and had a large role in bringing many town projects to life including Blue Back Square. He often remarked how lucky he was to be able to do work, that he believed in for the town he had always loved. Following his retirement and as a disabled veteran, Rob became an active member of the veteran community. He organized several events including the temporary installment of the "The Moving Wall" for display in the West Hartford Center and proudly wore his distinctive veteran’s cap everywhere he went.

Rob has two wonderful daughters and four amazing grandchildren, he always made sure that they knew they meant more to him than anything else in the world. He never missed an opportunity to chaperone a field trip, coach a team, attend a musical production or sporting event, or exclaim over a report card, artistic creation, or fish on a line. Rob loved to go for a drive and for friends and family alike, he was the very definition of ride or die – whether you needed to go to the airport, get home from a sleepover in the middle of the night, or travel halfway across the country during a blizzard. Rob was first on the emergency list for a sick call from school, always at the ready for last minute, late-night ice cream sundae runs, and in later years was known to pick up his daughters and their friends and deliver them safely from wherever, whenever -- no questions asked. In the summer, he loved to pile as many people (and dogs) as possible onto a golf cart and roll around Cornfield Point, always stopping at his favorite vantage points – Sandy Beach, the Crow’s Nest, and the Point to marvel at the osprey, Long Island Sound, and most importantly to see if there were any fish jumping.

Rob was a brother, dad, friend and a grampy to all. He was always on standby to help a neighbor, pitch a game of streetball, pump up a bicycle tire or outrageously large swimming float, launch a boat, nap with a grandkid, or rig a line. He was willing to share his favorite spots for snagging a striper or blue fish with anyone -- as long as he could serve as a personal guide and take the opportunity to see if he could catch a few at the same time.

Rob will be missed tremendously by all; Wife Barbara Rowlson; daughters Jenna Rowlson McCarron and Allison Rowlson; sons-in-law Sean McCarron and Andrew Veselak,; grandchildren Emily Lauren and Chloe Elizabeth McCarron, Zachary Ryan and Trevor James Veselak, sisters Lynne Bride and Jane Selden; brothers-in-law Joe Bride and Steve Selden; nieces and nephews Jennifer Griffin, Shelley Simmons, George (Ren) McEachern, David Selden, and Andrew Selden, many, many friends and his beloved dog Maggie and cat Clara. 

Visitation hours will be held on Friday, July 29 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Sheehan Hilborn Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford. Funeral services to follow at Fairview Cemetery, 200 Whitman Avenue, West Hartford.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to support the Playhouse on Park, one of Rob’s favorite passion projects. Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Rd., West Hartford, CT 06119. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com.