Steven John Rowland ’70

Steven John Rowland ’70, 61, of Cumming, Ga., formerly of Camden, S.C., passed away on Oct. 6 due to complications from prostate cancer. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Donna Rowland, 6315 East Hills Ct., Cumming, GA 30041; his three sons, Nathan, Benjamin, and Matthew Rowland; and five wonderful grandchildren. He was the son of John and Jean Rowland and the oldest brother to Ellen, Keith, Kenny, and Joanne. Rowland attended Davidson before enlisting in the Air Force. He served in the Air Force for four years, where he excelled as a Russian linguist. He went on to a successful career in the telecommunications industry for over 30 years. Rowland’s professional career was a story of courage, dedication, and professionalism. His start in hotel communications was an indication of his future successes. After working with some of the telecommunication giants, he decided that it was time to start his own business. His desire to provide the greatest level of service for each and every customer was quite similar to the dedication he gave to his family and friends. Over the course of 17 years, Rodeo Communications evolved from a basement operation to a full-service technical partner for almost every hotel brand in the United States. His success can be measured by the dedication of his employees and loyalty of business partners. Rowland made important contributions to the field of cancer research by volunteering as a subject in several groundbreaking clinical trials on the treatment of prostate cancer at the National Institute of Health. Rowland was also a supporter of the Prostate Cancer Foundation. He will be remembered as a caring husband, father, grandfather, and compassionate employer. He took great pleasure in cooking for his extended family. He followed sports closely and was a parent-alumnus of both the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Georgia. He had an abiding love of animals, both for family pets and wildlife.