Brian Joseph Cowan

Brian Joseph Cowan (61) died on January 14, 2019, in Arlington, Virginia, after a brief battle with brain cancer. Brian was born on May 21,1957, in Rochester, New York, the fourth child of Joseph Patrick Cowan and Anne Marie Fintak Cowan, who predeceased him. He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Constance J. Hallquist, as well as three sons, Joseph P. Cowan, Thomas J. Cowan, (from his first marriage to Patricia Cowan) Lukas J. Cowan, and a daughter, Anna L. Cowan. He is also survived by his sisters, Patricia E. Kloser and Ruth A. Casey, brothers Terrance J. Cowan and Patrick J. Cowan; as well as many cherished in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews throughout the country.

Brian graduated from the Aquinas Institute of Rochester in 1975. He received his BS from the University of Colorado, and an MBA with honors from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. After college he served for twenty years in the U.S. Navy as a Supply Corps Officer reaching the rank of Commander. While on active duty, Brian was a military assistant to Vice President Al Gore. He received numerous decorations, including a commendation for heroism in a lifesaving rescue.

Following his naval career, Brian was Owner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cowan & Associates, an Arlington firm specializing in information technology and supply chain management consulting to the government and private sector.

As a civilian, Brian assisted in the rescue operations at the Pentagon during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and was selected as a 2002 Olympic Torchbearer.

Throughout his life Brian was dedicated to advancing education, chairing the University of Colorado at Boulder Alumni Association and serving as Vice Chair of Aquinas Institute high school where he received their Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2013. He was Class Agent for the class of 1991 at the UVA Darden School Foundation. He also served on the board of the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation and received the U.S. Navy Supply Corps Foundation Volunteer of the Year Award in 2012.

His time in the military instilled a lifelong devotion to fitness and running; he completed fifteen marathons. Brian loved playing poker and Scrabble, watching Washington Capitals hockey games and masterful grilling on the Big Green Egg – all with friends and family. 

A Requiem and Celebration of Life will be held at 4:00 p.m., Friday, January 18, 2019, at Grace Episcopal Church, 3601 Russell Road, Alexandria, Virginia. Interment with military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.  This page will be updated with service details as they become available. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be mailed to: The Aquinas Institute Veterans Fund, 1127 Dewey Avenue, Rochester, New York 14613, or online at Aquinasinstitute.com, noting “In memory of Brian Cowan.”

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Brian Joseph Cowan, please visit our Tree Store.