Elliot C. Rowsey G’69 died on May 14, 2024, in Keene, New Hampshire.
(The following was provided by the Recorder on May 27, 2024:)
Elliot C. Rowsey G’69
Keene, NH – Elliot Rowsey, age 86, died May 14, 2024, at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, NH.
Elliot was born on April 26, 1938 in Boston, Massachusetts, the child of Charles Rowsey and Edith Rowsey (Knight). Elliot graduated from Newburyport High School in 1956. He earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Nasson College in 1963 and a master’s degree in mathematics from Bowdoin College in 1969.
It was at Nasson College that he met the love of his life, Katheryn “Kay” Frances Johnson. He famously picked her up for their first date on a motorcycle in the rain, which didn’t endear him to Kay’s parents at the time. The two fell in love and wed on June 18, 1960, in Sanford, Maine.
Elliot started his career as a math teacher at Sanford Junior High School. Elliot and Kay then moved to Hampton, New Hampshire, where Elliot was a math teacher at Winnacunnet High School for seven years. In 1970, Elliot and Kay moved to Mount Hermon, Massachusetts, where they both worked at Northfield Mount Hermon (NMH) School. Elliot began as a mathematics and computing teacher, and in 1978, became the school’s Registrar and Director of Scheduling. He served in this role until he retired in 2003. He also served as the school’s tennis coach, track and field coach, dorm head of Rikert House, and yearbook advisor.
Elliot and Kay were both granted sabbaticals from NMH and traveled the world together, including visits to China, Thailand, Greece, and countries in Africa. They loved animals and shared three pairs of collies: Scotch and Soda, Simon and Chase, and Gallo and Babet, as well as a border collie, Snoopy. The family also had pet rats and cats.
Elliot and Kay retired in Spofford, New Hampshire, where they spent many happy years with friends and family. Elliot was an avid tennis player, sailor, and reader. He loved playing bridge and cribbage. He was the commodore of the Spofford Yacht Club, where, among other duties, he would officiate boat races and man the “crash boat.” He loved catboat races at Arey’s Pond. He loved Boston sports teams, particularly the Red Sox and the Patriots.
Elliot was a loving and devoted husband of fifty-two years. He was the ideal dad and a doting grandfather – it was the ultimate honor and joy for his grandkids to ride with him on the lawn mower, the motorboat, the truck, or the Triumph. Taking a trip with him to the post office or even the dump felt like going to Disney World. He would drive six hours to Maine to watch his grandson’s baseball game. Losing to him in cribbage was a privilege. In 2023, he met his great-granddaughter over the Christmas holidays.
Elliot was a person who made his mark no matter where he went. He was beloved in every room he entered. He made the best bacon. He wrote the best Christmas letters. There was nothing better than hearing him shout, “Good show!” He will be incredibly missed.
Elliot was predeceased by his wife, Katheryn Rowsey, who died on May 9, 2012, surrounded by her family. He is survived by his three children and their spouses: Robert Rowsey of Colorado, Mary Swinney of Alabama, and Katheryn Fournier of Connecticut. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Andrew Swinney, Miranda Rowsey, Forest Decoste, Meaghan Rowsey, Rachel Rowsey, Richard Swinney, Alden Fournier, and Daniel Swinney, as well as his great-granddaughter, Merlin Rowsey.