Andrea McCrea Rowland

Published author and teacher, Andrea McCrea Rowland nee Fisher passed on June 7, 2019. Andrea was born to Gordon M. & Dawn S. Fisher on August 8, 1957 in Coral Gables, FL. Born a month early, and tiny at birth, her first bed was a dresser drawer. When her father got an appointment at Princeton University, they moved there where her sister, Jennifer, was born. When Andrea was 5, the family moved to Dunedin, New Zealand. And later to Hamilton, NZ. When she was 10, the family returned to the States and settled in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where she attended Harrisonburg High School and stayed through her college years. She graduated in English from James Madison University, where hers was the first student-written play – called “Fancies” - ever presented on the mainstage of the campus for which she also received the Norman Lear Comedy Playwriting Award. After graduation, Andrea went on to University of Virginia and attained a Masters’ Degree and a PhD. Her thesis was “The Supernatural Muse”. She worked as an Assistant Dean and Director of Studies at the University of Virginia, taught composition and literature at Wake Forest University, and taught introduction to theater at James Madison University. During that time, she also directed readings and productions of Shakespeare and other early modern playwrights at Wake Forest and at the University of Virginia. Most recently she taught English at Renaissance School in Charlottesville. Throughout the years, while also raising her son Liam Rowland, she wrote poetry, plays, and fiction, notably her novel, “High Tide.” A book of her poetry, “Family Album” was also recently published. Andrea married William Gordon Rowland, II and their son was born in 1995. Andrea passed June 7, 2019 while being read to by family. She is survived by her son, Liam Rowland, her sister Jenny Fisher, brother-in-law David Berger and nephew, Daniel Berger. Andrea was – and will always be – loved and cherished by many. Our love is here to stay.