Benjamin Allen Rowland Jr.

1935 - 2018

Benjamin Allen (Barry) Rowland, Jr., of Marblehead, MA, and South Londonderry, VT, died on June 25th, 2018 at his home in South Londonderry. He was born on April 10, 1935, in Cambridge, MA, the son of the late Benjamin Allen Rowland and the late Sara Briggs Rowland Bolton. He graduated from Brooks School in North Andover, MA and Yale University in 1957. He married Wendy Gartner in June, 1958, and they moved to Marblehead in 1959. Barry was a member of Eastern Yacht Club, where he served as House Committee Chairman and Treasurer. Barry started his career in financial services at Merchants National Bank of Boston in 1958. He then joined the investment management firm of Vance Sanders (Eaton Vance Corp) in March of 1966 and was the Chief Administrative Officer of the firm until he retired in 1999. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Eaton Vance. Throughout his long career, Barry was an active member of several mutual fund industry groups, including the Investment Company Institute and the National Investment Company Service Association (NICSA). After his retirement, he and Wendy divided their time between Marblehead and South Londonderry, where they had a working dairy farm. Barry joined the Burr and Burton Academy Board of Trustees in 2003. He served as Treasurer of the Board, Vice-Chair of the Board, and Chair of the Institutional Resources and Investment Committees. During this time, he also became involved at Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home. He generously supported both organizations, as well as many others, including The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Land, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Mountain Valley Medical Clinic. In 2008, Barry created The Rowland Foundation, which provides opportunities and the gift of time for visionary Vermont teachers (known as Rowland Fellows) to work in partnership with their principals to transform their schools. The Rowland Foundation has recently received the highest national honor, the Distinguished Service Award for Service to Education. Through his generosity and vision, Barry has left a legacy to the youth and teachers of Vermont, and beyond. Barry is survived by his wife, Wendy, and two daughters, Heidi Lynn and her husband Michael of Dorset, VT, Sandy Sullivan and her husband, Vince, of Ballard, CA, and four grandchildren, Carter and Myles Rawson and Kelsey and Sara Sullivan. He also is survived by two brothers, Edward S. Rowland, of Hamilton, MA, Daniel B. Rowland of Lexington, KY, a sister, Mary Allen Swedlund of Deerfield, MA and a half brother, Rodney D. Rowland of New Castle, NH. He was predeceased by his brother George B. (Robin) Rowland of Escondido, CA. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, August 14th at 11 AM at the First Congregational Church in Manchester, VT. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts to Burr and Burton Academy, P O Box 498, Manchester, VT 05254, or a charity of your choice.