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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Stephen Rowan, 89, died on Feb. 17 in Avon Lake, Ohio, where he was staying with a family member. Rowan will be remembered for his involvement in the village and for his dedication to the preservation of local history.

Stephen Rowan was instrumental in the creation of the Fort Simpson Historical Society. He died at age 89. - NNSL file photo

"He was a gracious, generous gentle man who helped all in need," said Sharon Herring, a long-time friend. "We will miss his wealth of knowledge, his sunny smile and his great sense of humour."

Eventful life

Rowan had an eventful life. He was born in Bletchingley, England, to American parents on Sept. 2, 1923. He spent his first 15 years in England until the day before his 16th birthday, when German troops invaded Poland, a move that started the Second World War.

His parents quickly sent him and his two brothers by ship to the United States.

Later, in 1942 when he was a college student, Rowan was drafted but, despite memorizing the eye chart, he failed the physical exam because of his eyesight.

Undeterred, Rowan volunteered with the American Field Service where he became an ambulance driver. Rowan spent the war serving in Libya and Italy. Despite his time in the two countries, Rowan didn't consider himself a veteran.

After the war Rowan began his career in education. He taught in France and New York and then came North to Alaska in 1960. In 1963 he moved to what was then Frobisher Bay, now Iqaluit. While in the Eastern Arctic Rowan had his own dog team.

"He was ready for any kind of new experience," said Herring.

He also taught across the Northwest Territories, including Rae Lakes (Gameti) and Trout Lake. In May 1980 Rowan became a Canadian citizen. Three years later he became the superintendent of education in Fort Rae (Behchoko). He also spent a year as superintendent in Fort Simpson before retiring in 1987.

Rowan was an active volunteer in the village. He was a member of the Library Board and was involved in the Jack Rabbit Ski Club, the Boy Scouts, the Beautification Society and the Fort Simpson Fall Fair Committee. Rowan was also the founding and sustaining member of the Fort Simpson Historical Society.

"His passion was the preservation of historical buildings in Fort Simpson," said Barb Tsetso, a longtime member of the society.

Starting in the early 1990s the society identified six historical buildings in the village. They began with the preservation of McPherson House.

Rowan purchased the land the house was on and gave it to the society. It is now Heritage Park. He was very involved in the restoration of the cabin and the clean-up and maintenance of the property.

Rowan was also interested in determining the exact location of Fort of the Forks, a fur trading post established in the 1800s. An archeological dig was done in 2000 to look for evidence.

"Steve was very, very involved in that," Tsetso said.

Rowan was also interested in the village's other historical buildings.

When the Anglican Mission House burned down he made sure some of the square logs from the building were saved and stored in the old barn. He also took it upon himself to maintain Albert Faille's cabin, including shuttering the cabin's windows and covering the boats with tarps in the fall.

Rowan gathered information about the region's history. He did extensive research in various archives and museums. Rowan put some of the information into the walking tour booklet he wrote for the village.

Rowan enjoyed giving walking tours to visitors to the community and continued to do so into his eighties. If anyone gave him a tip for a tour he would give it to the society, Tsetso said.

Rowan had an immense knowledge of the details, names, dates and places related to local history, said Martina Norwegian, the Fort Simpson Historical Society's president.

He had a way of making history interesting and was patient in explaining details to make sure you understood, Norwegian said.

"He was our go-to person and he was the gentlest of gentlemen that I ever had the pleasure of meeting," she added.

In 2003 Rowan received the NWT Outstanding Senior Volunteer Award for his contributions to life in the village.

Rowan is survived by a sister-in-law and eight nieces and nephews. A memorial service is expected to be held in the village for Rowan, although a date hasn't been set.

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