Frederick "Fred" Richard Rowell

Born on October 15, 1934, in Quincy, MA, Fred was the son of Grace (Hoffman) Cunningham. He was predeceased by his cherished wife of 64 years, Roberta “Bobbie” Louise Rowell, his younger brothers James and Robert Hoffman, and his younger sisters, Patricia Hoffman, and Ginger (Rowell) Olson. He is survived by his brothers, Ken, and Richard Rowell.

Fred lived a life defined by determination, resilience, and love. During his senior year of high school, he attended the American School in Heidelberg, Germany, creating unforgettable memories with his dear cousin Jacky Cunningham. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Army and proudly served three years as a mechanic in units based in the states and Germany.

Following his military service, Fred dedicated 40 years to the Pneumatic Scale company in Quincy, MA, as a machinist and quality control supervisor. When the company relocated before Fred was ready to retire, he reinvented himself, attending the Bennett School to become a locksmith. He was much older than his classmates, who embraced him as a friend and mentor. Fred finished his career contributing his skills and experience to the Pasek Corporation, a commercial security firm headquartered in Boston.

Fred and Bobbie’s love story began in their early teens and blossomed into a lifetime of devotion. After dating in high school, Bobbie promised to marry Fred after he completed his military service. They wed on September 21, 1957.

Fred was a gifted artist, skilled woodworker, and avid golfer. He designed, carved, and painted hundreds of bottle stoppers, which he freely shared with family and friends. Another of his specialties was fishing lures, which he displayed alongside a collection of antique lures he created over the years. Fred loved to learn and had a small library of golf instruction books (though it must be said he struggled to master the game, to put it kindly). In good weather, he hit balls daily at the small range he fashioned in his backyard. Fred meticulously maintained his home and often worked on projects for his children as they started families and purchased their own homes.

He traveled the world with Bobbie and enjoyed the company of their many friends. Most of all Fred enjoyed spending time with his family, to whom he was immensely devoted. Time spent with Fred left you with the certainty that he listened, cared, and thought you were important. He left his family with endless memories of his loving personality, steadfast loyalty, and zest for life.

Fred leaves a legacy of love in his children: David and his wife, Erin; daughter Diane and her husband, Jerald; son Steven and his wife, Maura; and six grandchildren Tessa and her fiancé Alison, Bennett, Alanah and her husband Christopher, Madison and her husband, Connor; Alexandra, Samantha; and three great-grandchildren, Harlow, Jackson and Leonardo.

A Celebration of Life Visitation for Fred will be held Thursday, January 30th from 6-9PM at Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 154 Route 6A, Sandwich, MA 02563. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 1PM on Friday January 31st. Burial will follow at Massachusetts National Cemetery, Connery Ave. Bourne, MA.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Fred’s memory to the American Heart Association.