Cheryl Robin McGowan

Cheryl Robin Weiss McGowan of Rockville, Maryland passed away peacefully surrounded by family on May 22, 2023 after a long battle with gastric cancer.

Cheryl was born in Los Angeles, CA on June 6, 1957 to Nathan and Arlene Weiss and spent her early childhood there before moving with her family to Silver Spring, MD when she was seven. She grew up in a modest apartment in White Oak, MD where she lived with her mother and brother (her father passed away while the family still lived in LA).

After graduating from high school, Cheryl attended Frostburg State University from 1975-1979, where she earned a B.A. in Sociology, Speech, and Theater. After college, she attended the Washington School for Secretaries to develop her administrative skills.

Cheryl's professional life was diverse, starting at the Biblical Archeology Review (BAR), where she worked for many years as an administrative assistant. Following that, Cheryl worked in an administrative capacity at other organizations (The Washington Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values, and St. Albans’ School, to name a few) until she was fortunate enough to be able to take 10 years off to raise her two daughters, Rosemary, and Bonnie. When her children were in high school, she returned to work as the Executive Assistant at Temple Shalom until her retirement in 2020.

Cheryl was a voracious reader, a collector of rocks and fossils, a theater enthusiast, and a loving wife and mother. Cheryl always had a keen interest in medicine, and, at the age of 42 she fulfilled her ambition to become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department (KVFD), where in 2010 she attained Life Member status.

Cheryl is survived by Bill, her beloved husband of 36 years, and her two daughters, Rosemary, and Bonnie. Cheryl is also survived by her brother, Herb Weiss, and niece, Lara Chickanis, in addition to cousins and many dear friends.