William J. Rowan III

Bill Rowan passed away peacefully on March 21, 2025 at home at the age of 85. A life-long resident of Chevy Chase, Maryland, he graduated in 1957 from Gonzaga College High School, where he is a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame. He went on to attend the University of Detroit, where he played football on scholarship and served as the Captain of the Speech and Debate Team as a senior. According to family lore (originating with him), following graduation, he was invited to the Dallas Cowboys training camp but instead pursued a career in law. He enrolled in Georgetown University Law School. In 1964, he received his law degree, while married, the father of two children, and working as a law clerk to a Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge.

Bill began his legal career in Rockville, Maryland as a trial attorney with Heeney, McAuliffe & McAuliffe and thereafter with Rowan, Abell, Quirk & Quinn and its successors. For 36 years he practiced in Montgomery County and surrounding jurisdictions while handling a wide variety of civil and criminal cases. He served for three years as the counsel to the Montgomery County Delegation in the Maryland State Legislature. He was elected to the Board of Governors of both the Montgomery County and Maryland State Bar Associations, where he served as Chairman of numerous committees, as well as being elected twelve years to the Trial Court Judicial Nominating Commission for Montgomery County, which evaluates and approves judicial applicants for the governor's consideration. He was a frequent lecturer on legal topics and taught Criminal Law and Procedure at the American University.

In 1981, at the age of 42, he was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, considered to be the highest honor an American trial lawyer can receive. Later, as the ACTL Maryland State Chair, he was proud to nominate the first two women to become members of the ACTL from Maryland.

In 2000, Governor Paris Glendening appointed him a Judge of the Montgomery County Circuit Court. He was later confirmed by voters in the 2002 election to a full term. In 2009, at the age of 70, as required by Maryland law, he retired as a full time Judge. He did continue on a call back basis to sit on Circuit and District Courts throughout the State, as well as preside over mediations and arbitrations.

Notwithstanding his professional accomplishments, Bill's family was his highest priority. His relationship with Ann Cotter began when they attended Blessed Sacrament School. They were married in 1962 and enjoyed a wonderful life together. Bill was a loving and supportive father to his three sons and their wives, and a proud grandfather and great grandfather. He loved hosting his family at their house in Bethany Beach, Delaware.

Bill served as a member of the Blessed Sacrament Parish Council and as President of the CYO for the Metropolitan area. He also served as the President of the Gonzaga Alumni Association and from 2022 until his death, he was a member of Gonzaga's Board of Trustees. In 2005 he was honored to deliver the school's Kohlmann Commencement Address at graduation. In 2016, Gonzaga awarded him its St Aloysius Gonzaga Medal, for extraordinary service to the school.

He was a member of The Counselors, The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Columbia Country Club, and the Swan Point Gun Club.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Ann Cotter Rowan; father of Bill (Kris) Rowan, Pat (Patti) Rowan, and Mike (Jen) Rowan; grandfather of Hailey, Meghan, Vivian, Evangeline, Michael, Molly, and Tommy; great-grandfather of Chase and Rosie; brother of Katie Nurmi, Margie Boyle, and Mary Vollono.

Relatives and friends may call at Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 5949 Western Ave. NW, Washington, DC, on Saturday, March 29, starting at 10 a.m. where Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Interment Private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gonzaga College High School at www.gonzaga.org.