Robert Sidney Rowland of Lawrence died Sept. 24 at Mercer Medical Center. He was 86.
Born in Schenectady, N.Y., he grew up in Delaware, Ohio, and was a Lawrence resident since 1957.
He had a long career in market research, first with the Gallup Organization in Princeton and later with R.H. Bruskin Associates in New Brunswick.
He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1942 with a degree in mathematics and later completed a master’s degree at Ohio State School of Journalism, where he met his future wife.
After a brief, early news-casting career with the original CBS affiliate in Columbus, Ohio, he moved to New York City and pursued a writing career. One of his stories, “The McGregor Affair,” appeared on the “Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Hour” in 1964.
In the early 1950s he and his wife moved to the Lawrence area. Mr. Rowland coached youth basketball and was involved in Cub Scouts and later Boy Scout Troop 28 as the committee chairman.
He was also a poet, publishing 10 books of poetry starting in 1980. He was very active in the Delaware Valley Poetry Society and served as president or treasurer for many years. His poems were noted for their whimsical nature, usually ending with an unexpected and humorous twist.
Son of the late Sidney Archie and Margaret Lois Drake Rowland, he is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joan F. Rowland; sons and daughters-in-law Edward and Amy Rowland of Madison and Steven and Karen Rowland of Chatham; brothers and sisters-in-law F. Sherwood and Joan Rowland of Corona del Mar, Calif. and Richard and LaVerne Rowland of Elk Grove, Calif.; and grandchildren Lainie, Helene and Audrey of Madison and Sam and Molly of Chatham.
The funeral will be 1 p.m. Sunday at Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, Lawrence.
Burial will follow in the Princeton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Delaware Valley Poetry Inc., P.O. Box 5362, Trenton, NJ 08638 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

