Richard Douglas “Doug” Cowan, 80, beloved father, grandfather, brother, and husband passed away peacefully in the presence of his wife of 59 years, Linda Cowan and other family on Sanibel Island, Florida December 3, 2021.
Doug came into the world March 1, 1941 in Cleveland, Ohio as the first of four children born to Richard and Cleo Cowan. As a young boy he grew up in Minerva, OH where he loved to play baseball and golf, fish with his father, bomb downhill during winter sledding adventures, and go joy riding with friends in his mother’s car. He had three cherished younger siblings, brothers Steven Cowan of Evansville (IN) & John Cowan of Nashville (TN), and sister Sue Dearmond of Newburgh (IN). He often could be heard fondly describing his childhood as like growing up in “Mayberry.” The family later moved to Solon where eventually graduated from Solon High School in1958.
He began his collegiate journey by attending Purdue University for engineering, but he was not meant to be an engineer. He transferred to Ohio Northern where he cultivated an emerging love for what would be his life’s professional passion, numbers and finance. Although ONU served to spark his career interests, it had a far greater impact on his life’s path as it was where he met his beloved wife, Linda Francis Nicoletti. They married a year later and moved to Kent, OH where Doug would finish his academic pursuits, earning a BS in Business Administration from Kent State University.
As young parents, Doug and Linda went on to raise 3 children in Stow, OH, Geoff Cowan (wife Kelly) of Chicago, IL, Heather Andrea (husband Robert) of Naples, FL, and Chris Cowan (wife Alison) of Los Angeles, CA. Much later 7 grandchildren followed, Samantha, Madisyn, Ryan, Rylee, Dominic, Cleo and Lincoln. Doug was a strong, kind, loving, and supportive father and grandfather. His knowledge and guidance were the foundation of his family. They meant more to him than anything else in the world, something he would gladly share without much prodding. He was unendingly proud of each, and every one of them.
While growing his family, Doug set off on an immensely successful and satisfying career at The Davey Tree Expert Company. He first joined Davey in 1974 as Corporate Controller and was promoted to successive positions and responsibility throughout the years: Vice President of Finance in 1979; Executive Vice President in 1984; President and Chief Operating Officer in 1985; Chief Executive Officer in 1988; and Chairman of the Board in 1997. In all, Doug was grateful and blessed to have lived and worked with his Davey family for over 50 years. His time spent there was a source of great pride and joy throughout his life.
His interests and talents were vast and varied. He was a passionate world traveler, an avid golfer, an excellent dinner companion, a lover of sweets, an accomplished card player, a crazy Christmas gift giver, and a dedicated Cleveland sports fan. He could often be found with Linda at Jacobs Field or Cleveland Municipal Stadium rooting on his treasured Indians and Browns as they chased an ever-elusive Championship. Thank goodness he was also an Ohio State Buckeyes fan and was able to witness, in person, their 2014 National Title victory.
In 1978 he bought his first boat, an old wooden Chris Craft Constellation. Thus began a nearly 50-year love affair with a series of cabin cruisers named “Someday Honey,” and the enchanting waters of Lake Erie. Summers were spent exploring the vast northern waterways of the Great Lakes and island hopping in Erie’s western basin. Fishing was never a strength. Using his ever-expanding arsenal of radar equipment, he could always tell you where the fish were, he just couldn’t figure out how to catch them.
2011 would be an incredible year of change for Doug and his family as he became the grateful recipient of a live liver transplant. It sparked a new calling for Doug as he was endlessly amazed by the generosity and selflessness of his donor and the brilliance of his medical team at Cleveland Clinic. From that point forward he dedicated himself to raising money and awareness for the cause, hosting an annual fund-raising golf tournament, and eventually endowing a Chair for Transplant Research at Cleveland Clinic.
He loved passionately and deeply. We take comfort in knowing that Doug is now at peace surrounded by light. Anyone who knew Doug was touched by his kindness, humor, and mild temperament. He was truly a calming force and a constant source of positivity. He always made friends along the way; he was just the kind of person who drew people in. He never lost his spirit and love for life. He was the most loving father a family could ask for and the friend you could always count on. Those in his immediate and extended family, as well as his abundance of friends, will all miss him more than words can say.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Live Liver Donor Foundation (https://give.ccf.org/cowangolf2022). A celebration of life will be held in conjunction with a continuation of Doug’s annual charity golf outing on Monday, August 22, 2022 where another opportunity to donate to this important cause will be provided.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kiserfh.com for the Cowan family.
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