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Hurricane Center Worker for 32 Years

Posted on: Monday, 12 June 2006, 06:00 CDT

By Andrea Torres, The Miami Herald

Jun. 12--Robert "Bob" J. Rowlee, a former National Hurricane Center employee who kept a close eye on tropical weather for 32 years, died Friday of complications from a stroke. He was 74.

Rowlee, a meteorological technician, read the center's radio forecasts and worked as a public information officer in the 1970s.

"He was dedicated," said his wife, Marie Rowlee. "He talked about countless tropical storms and saw many hurricanes pass through South Florida."

Rowlee was born March 3, 1932, in Elmira, N.Y. He graduated from Elmira Academy and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1950.

He served in Japan during the Korean War and received the United Nations Service medal after completing his tour in 1953.

Upon his return, he moved to Miami to study geography at the University of Miami and began to work at the National Hurricane Center in Dade County in 1955.

"Bob used his knowledge of math and physics to describe the areas of weather for forecasters," said Larry Lahiff, a meteorologist and lead forecaster.

After earning his bachelor's degree, Rowlee continued to take meteorology classes at Barry University, where he fell in love with Marie McKittrick, who worked at the registrar's office. They wed four days before Valentine's Day in 1962.

"He worked different shifts sometimes through the night, weekends and even holidays," Marie Rowlee said.

At the center, Rowlee also answered questions about the weather from callers at the public information desk.

"He was in good spirits all the time," Lahiff said. "He was serious and kept a close watch."

Upon retiring in 1987, fellow center employees gave him a plaque -- with a weather barometer -- that read: Working under pressure, may you in retirement feel no pressure but that shown above.

"He taught me how to read the barometer on his plaque," said his daughter, Christine Rowlee. "Weather was his passion. I don't think he ever retired."

In addition to his wife and daughter, Rowlee is survived by sons John, James and Michael Rowlee.

Visitation is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Van Orsdel Funeral Home, 4600 SW Eighth St. in Coral Gables. Services are at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Hugh Catholic Church, 3460 Royal Rd. in Coconut Grove, followed by internment at Flagler Memorial, 5301 W. Flagler St. in Miami.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Miami Herald

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Miami Herald

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