Don Rowland, a 7th generation Californian descended from Spanish explorers, Mountain Men and early Anglo pioneers, died December 20, 2022, at home with family by his side.
The only child of Norman Joseph Rowland and Virginia Sprague Rowland, he was born in Los Angeles in 1942, graduated from Burbank High School in 1959 and the University of Redlands in 1963. While at U.of R., he joined Pi Chi fraternity and formed treasured lifetime friendships. He also met Jean Pearce Rowland, his wife of nearly 60 years. He graduated from UCLA School of Dentistry in 1973, moved his family to Camarillo in 1976 to join Anderson, Arstein, Good, and Rowland, now known as Rosewood Dental.
Don enjoyed living in Camarillo for 46 years and was active in the community. He helped start and served as Director of the Cosmos Track club for many years while coaching his daughters. He also coached his son’s Roadrunners football team and CYBA baseball teams. Don often joked about flunking retirement when he returned to UCLA School of Dentistry to teach and also to travel extensively through-out the Southwest to research and write his book, John Rowland and William Workman, Southern California Pioneers of 1841.
Don is survived by his wife, Jean and their children, Laura (Victor) Luna, Dawn (Steve) Maxwell, Wendy (Jim) Sparks and Daniel Rowland; grandchildren Samuel Luna, Jacob Sparks, Mackenzie Sparks, Joshua Rowland and Caleb Rowland. He was preceded in death by his eldest granddaughter, Sarah Luna, PhD. Donations can be made in Don’s memory to the Sarah Luna, EIS ’16 Memorial Scholarship Fund at give.cdcfoundation.org. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Published in Ventura County Star, January 18, 2023
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