Rowan Scott Hutchinson

Dad

Gramps

Poppy

Rowan Scott Hutchinson was born November 1, 1931 at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah to parents Oliver and Elizabeth Newman Hutchinson of Holladay, Utah.

His humble and hardworking parents instilled these values, along with integrity, discipline, thrift, and so many more, which created the man we know and love.

Rowan was raised in Holladay, Utah with brothers Ross and Robert, and sisters Joy, Margaret, Carolyn, and Olive, and surrounded extended family including many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Rowan worked alongside his father in construction when he was young, and he passed these skills on to us – some of whom enjoy this type of work as a hobby, others maybe not so much.

After graduating from Granite High School in 1950, Rowan joined the US navy as a radio specialist, and served in the Korean War from 1951 to 1954.

After his discharge from the Navy, he enrolled at the University of Utah and studied Electrical Engineering, graduating in the class of 1958.

On July 28, 1958, Rowan married his lifelong love, Mary Carleen Olson, also of Holladay. 

On July 4, 1959, his father, Oliver Hutchinson, passed away at the young age of 59. 

Rowan and Mary welcomed the first child six days later followed by five more children as the family lived in the Salt Lake area until 1971: RoAnn, Lynda Kay, Miles, Steve, Denise and David.

His first grandchild, Dallin, was born in 1979 and became part of the Hutchinson family as Rowan raised him as his own son, best bud, and golf partner.  More grandchildren soon joined the family – Iris, Sydney, Conner, Vincenzo, Joshua, Gabrielle, Andre, Tyler, and Cami—and Rowan loved them all and enjoyed seeing them grow and achieve their goals.

Great-grandchildren have also joined the Hutchinson family – JJ, Adelaide, Madelyn, and Amora.  He welcomed all of them, and loved to see them. 

Over the years, Dad, Mom, and children moved many times across the country to Boca Raton, Florida, back to Salt Lake, then on to Poughkeepsie, New York, and then to Austin, Texas, and finally back to Salt Lake City as Rowan continued his career with IBM as a Systems Engineer.

In his spare time away from his IBM work and golf, Dad built most of the homes we lived in. When we lived in a house he did not build, it was because he was in the process of building our next home. From the plans drawn on his drawing board to the landscaping, he did it all (with help from his “radio-and-hammer boys"). His homes are all solid and sensible, just as his father taught him.  Framing was done with precision to minimize any cutting waste of lumber. Nails were driven in straight, with a hammer, no nail guns.  Any bent nails were straightened to be re-used. He built his last home in Kaysville during 1994 and 1995, where Mary still lives.

After retiring from IBM, Rowan created his own consulting company Resource Sciences Corporation.

Rowan retired to follow his passion for golf while we were living just a few blocks away from Davis Park Golf Course in Fruit Heights.  If Dad was not at home, he was on the links or working the front desk at the clubhouse.

We know his struggle with declining physical strength was so difficult for him.  When he was unable to golf any more, it was heartbreaking.  He found his declining mental abilities so frustrating and tried so hard to overcome them. 

After a lifetime of his caring for our family, we have been privileged to help him all we could during these last few years.  He would always say 'Thank you for all your help' and 'Drive Safely' when we headed home.

It helps to ease our grief at his passing to know that Rowan is now reunited with his daughter, Lynda Kay, who passed away in 1982, as well as all the other family members who preceded him.

We love you Dad!

We’d like to thank all of the caregivers who helped Rowan and the family during his last few months with special gratitude to Nurse Seida and First Choice Hospice.