Thomas Patrick Rowan

Thomas Rowan Obituary

December 21, 2021 If there was an Emmy category for best entertainment attorney, husband, father and friend, a life achievement award would have certainly gone to Thomas Patrick Rowan. Tom passed away on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 from kidney failure due to cancer. He was surrounded by his cherished family, his wife, actress Marla Pennington Rowan the love of his life; his son Dan and his wife Arisa Sato Rowan; his daughter Kat Rowan and her partner Charlie Bruchez. He was 74 years old. Tom was the son of the late Dan Rowan of the comedy team of Rowan and Martin, whose television show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In was the number one show for close to 5 years.
Tom eschewed following in his father's performing footsteps, his tongue-in-cheek reasoning… because I don't have any talent! After a brief but proud stint as an Army Lieutenant in the early '70's, he attended Loyola Marymount University where he received his Juris Doctorate. Upon graduation, Tom formed the firm Irwin and Rowan with partner and friend John Irwin and represented such clients as Jimmy Fallon, Dave Chapelle, Richard Burton, Kenny Rogers and Burt Reynolds. He was the founding partner of the law firm Rowan, Maron, and Feil. Tom was a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the Beverly Hills Bar Association and served on the board of directors for St. Michaels Catholic School located in South Central Los Angeles. He was the Grand Senechal of the Chevalier Du Tastevin Los Angeles Commanderie and a longtime avid member of the Bohemian Grove.
He married his wife, Marla, 8/8/88 at the Bel Air Hotel, and quipped that he picked the date so he wouldn't forget it! And spent 33 years with his love. Tom was an absolute joy to be around, he and Marla would host many parties at their home in Malibu where the food and wine flowed and the laughs never ceased with such friends as Bob and Ginnie Newhart, Don and Barbara Rickles, Tim and Sharkey Conway, Dick and Dolly Martin, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Mike and Mary Lou Connors, Dick Christie and many many others. He had a natural joyous kind spirit, indefatigable energy, unfailing loyalty, unshakeable convictions, and infectious laugh, he made each and every life he touched just a little better. To say he will be missed is an understatement.
Rest in Peace darling Tom.
Services are pending. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Tom can be made to:
Bosco Technical Institute
1151 San Gabriel Blvd
Rosemead, CA 91770

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Los Angeles Times from Jan. 7 to Jan. 9, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Rowan

6 Entries

Lynne Farr

Planted Trees

Lynne Farr

January 14, 2022

So many memories . . . Tom represented Gordon Farr and I during our various TV jobs and then he acted for both of us during our divorce! That's because he was so trustworthy and we wanted to keep it real. Later, my fine artist partner, Shingo Honda, gave baby Dan his first art. Shingo never forgot Marla and her chums performing "Going To The Chapel and We're Gonna Get Married" complete with hand movements which he copied to perfection. He loved Marla's take on pepper steak using our Hawaiian Ahi. Tom was a special guy with a special wife. He'll be very much missed.

Edward Kasaba - NDHS Class of 65

January 12, 2022

May Our Dear Lord sweep Tom up and take him into heaven with a grand welcome. Tom will sure put a smile on God´s and the angel´s faces. God bless Tom´s Family
Ed K

David Zawacki, LT Colonel, US Army, Retired

January 10, 2022

Marla, Dan and Kat. My condolences for what is a great loss. Tom and I knew each other from our stint in the Army during the 70´s at Ft Sheridan, IL. We had fun times sailing on Lake Michigan and we´d hang out with the `beer for lunch bunch´ in later years we reconnected for periodic lunches. One of his favorites was the Caesar Salad at Vito´s in Santa Monica. He was one helluva guy, who never lost his humility, his sense of humor, or his devotion to others.

E.V. Di Massa, Jr

January 8, 2022

Tom was so much more than a friend and business associate. He was kind, caring and always a true partner in any project we endevoured. I will never forget how caring and loving it was for Tom to drive sixty miles in heavy July 4th traffic a few years back to attend the church services for my dear mother. He went out of his way to comfort me. Tom is someone who not only touched my life and career...he also touched my heart. May he now rest in the palm of God's hand until we meet again.

Laurel Altman

January 7, 2022

Dear Rowans..
So sorry to read this. It´s now being passed along to a lot more folks that had the great pleasure of knowing Tom. I worked for Ken Kragen from 1984-2002. Everyone there liked and admired him so much. Marla sent me her recipes every year along with pix of the kids. Tom made work at K & Co so smooth. Nice memories.

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