Kenneth J. Rowley

1918 - 2014

CONCORD - Kenneth Johnson Rowley died Jan. 8, 2014, at New Hampshire Hospice in Concord after a short illness. He was born Jan. 15, 1918, in New Haven, Conn., the son of Arthur A. and Leila (Johnson) Rowley.

Mr. Rowley received his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1939. He then served as first lieutenant in the U.S. Army during WWII and was part of U.S. actions in the Pacific and Japan. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

Mr. Rowley, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), served as secretary-treasurer of Security Insurance of New Haven, Conn., and as director and secretary-treasurer of New Hampshire Insurance Company of Manchester. Prior to his retirement as an investment counselor, he was chairman of the Board of Directors and treasurer of David L. Babson and Company of Boston. After his retirement in 1982, he moved to Wolfeboro.

Mr. Rowley has made a lifelong commitment to sharing his talents both with business and nonprofit community groups. He served as director of the Merchants National Bank (Manchester) and the Illinois Insurance Company. His dedication to nonprofit groups has led to his service as director of the Manchester Boys and Girls Club, the Child and Family Service Society, the New Hampshire Division of the American Cancer Society and on the Investment Committee of the United Church of Christ.

He served as trustee of the Manchester Institute of Arts & Sciences, the Currier Gallery of Art and the Tilton School. In 1988, he was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from New Hampshire College, where he had been a member of the inaugural Board of Trustees. He served for more than 20 years, playing a prominent role in the development of what is now Southern New Hampshire University.

As a child, Mr. Rowley spent his summers on West Hill Pond, Conn. Later on, he enjoyed spending summer vacations with his family on Lake Champlain in Vermont and on Lake Winnipesaukee in N.H. He enjoyed boating, cribbage, horse-shoes, curling, bridge, golf and his black Labs, but more than anything else he loved to be with his family. He will be dearly missed by us all.

He is survived by his three children, son Craig S. Rowley and his wife, Andrea, of Dover, daughter Beth Rowley Michelon and her husband, Philippe, of Cambridge, Mass., and son Glenn A. Rowley and his wife, Paula, of Hooksett; five grandchildren, Derek, Chad, Brett, Lindsay and Connor Rowley; and seven great-grandchildren, Carter, Sophia, Anna, Owen, Julia, Emily and Peter Rowley. He was predeceased by his wife of 24 years, Mary Snow Rowley, and by his second wife of 34 years, Jean Smith Rowley..

SERVICES: A private graveside service was held at Pine Grove Cemetery in Manchester. Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA, 01701-9376. Please visit www.goodwinfh.com to sign the online guestbook.