Gary Glenn Cowan of Malibu died on March 30 at his home after a long illness. He was 66.
Cowan was born Sept. 28, 1936 in Ventura. He married his high school sweetheart, JoElla Miller. He attended Redlands University on a basketball scholarship, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He later served in the U.S. Army Reserves, attended UCLA, and graduated with a master’s degree in accounting. At night he taught a CPA prep class at UCLA, and in the summer he was one of only three people in the country to be accepted into a Price Waterhouse special summer program. Upon completing the program he was hired by the firm. Besides specializing in the analysis of large corporations and stock market investments, he was vice president of Dart Industries, president of Leisure Technologies, CEO of Superscope Industries, and was on the board of directors for J2 Communications. He loved to travel the world with his family, enjoyed Las Vegas and followed sports, especially basketball.
Cowan is survived by his son, Gregory Cowan of Malibu; daughter and son-in-law, JoLeen and Brian Magill of Newbury Park, and grandsons Shane and Travis; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jim and Ann Cowan of Ventura, and Norman and Carolyn Cowan of Tonto Basin, Ariz.; step-sisters Margaret Sechrest of Yreka, and Barbara Fletcher and her husband, Wayne of Ventura; step-sister-in-law Jymmye Hitch Banhart of Montegue, Calif., sister-in-law Eileen Riddle and her husband, Mike of Ventura; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cowan was preceded in death by his beloved wife; mother and father, Phyllis and John Cowan; step-father, Charles Hitch; sister, Barbara Cowan Morton; brother, Larry Cowan; and step-brother, David Hitch.
Services took place on April 3 at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Association or your favorite charity.