Lonnie Allan Rowell Jr.

Lonnie Allen Rowell, Jr. passed away on February 13, 2021 from COVID-19. Lonnie was born June 25, 1953 in Jacksonville, Fl. and has been a life long Jacksonville resident. He was the son of Lonnie A Rowell, Sr. and Bernice Rowell, and the brother of Barbara Rowell Schafer, all deceased. Lonnie is survived by cousins on his mother’s side Ellen Shirley, and James and Alvin Pittman; and on his father’s side 2nd cousins Sandy Sanders, and 3rd cousins Beverly Jean Shiferdek and Patsy Davis.

Lonnie was a 1971 graduate of Paxon Senior High School and earned his Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Jacksonville University in the mid 1970's. His musical versatility led him to work in many groups large and small, including 15 years in the Jacksonville Symphony as an orchestral bassist, as well as many years as the bassist in the pit band of the Alhambra Dinner Theatre. He worked with numerous local bands playing all styles for decades at clubs, the Landing, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, and innumerable private functions. Then, he garnered his proudly earned Actors' Equity Card as a fixture in a touring Broadway show, Pump Boys and Dinettes.

In addition to all this he served for many decades as a essential member of IATSE Local 115 as a veteran stage technician. He worked at the Times Union Center, Florida Theater, the Ritz, the Vystar Veteran’s Memorial Arena, as well as almost every other possible venue in metro Jacksonville. Lonnie had numerous interests in addition to music; he was into sailing, participated in several local sailboat races, and built his own sailboat. He was also a cyclist with several bike clubs and recently was often seen kayaking through local waterways.

As we can see, Lonnie was something of a renaissance man and fit in famously wherever he found himself. Lonnie is also survived by his significant other, Teresa Fischer, as well as hundreds of friends from all walks of life. He touched so many through the years, he will truly be missed by so many. A Memorial Service will be held at the Florida Theater on March 27, 2021 from 2pm to 4pm. In lieu of flowers we are asking for donations to help with expenses to compensate the Florida Theater for his Memorial Service. All funds received over and above expenses will be given as a donation to the Florida Theater in Lonnie’s honor. He truly loved this theater and the people who make it work, and would be honored to be remembered in this way in this place

Hardage-Giddens Riverside Memorial Park and Funeral Home is proud to serve the family.