Dave Rowley
Dave Rowley was an honorary senior research fellow in speech and language therapy at De Montfort University, Leicester, where he was the chief principal lecturer in speech therapy with responsibility for research. He organised the Oxford Dysfluency Conference for over twenty years and edited several volumes of the proceeding from the conference. He has written and edited several books. His main area of research in stuttering is concerned with the interface between clinical and experimental data, specifically the determination of what triggers stuttering and the role of anxiety in mediating the severity of stuttering. (http://www.cross2013.info/page4/page4.html#.VS0RpOCR-L0) and (http://www.dysfluencyconference.com/bio_david.html). Several of his varied professional contributions are listed under Dave T. Rowley in Scholar Google. Dave passed away suddenly April 10, 2015.
Announcement from Norbert Lieckfeldt British Stammering Association, April 12, 2015
A gorgeous spring day in London. But there are news that turn the brightest day to dust.
Dave Rowley has suffered a heart attack. It was so severe that he did not survive.
Some of you may not know who Dave is. Only a few years ago, Dave retired as a Senior Lecturer at De Montfort University, after many years of teaching speech and language therapists their trade.
He has always had an interest in stammering which led him to a close collaboration with Lena Rustin, one of the founders of the Michael Palin Centre. They looked at the situation of stammering therapy from the two points of the clinician and the researcher - and decided to do something about this.
The result was the Oxford Dysfluency Conference (ODC), one of the biggest, and most important international Conferences about stammering anywhere in the world. It is only held once every three years, and last year he and Sharon Millard organised the 10th Conference, as inspiring as ever.
The Conference is also held in a warm atmosphere, calm, in quiet seclusion at St Catherine's in the Thames meadows, away from the bustle of Central Oxford. It's a restful place, with beautiful architecture. To me, the Conference has always been a reflection of Dave's character.
I've had a number of quiet talks with him in Oxford last summer - all my talks with Dave would be quiet, and calm. He was relaxed, at peace, not easily unsettled. In the middle of any Conference crisis, he would be the calm centre.
He's found happiness in Croatia and has uprooted himself and was building a new home there, a future snatched from him and from Suzana, and from all his friends.
There will be many appreciations of Dave, of his life and his achievements, in the days to come. But on this sunny Spring day, my thoughts are with Suzana and with his family. And I'm sad I won't be able to take him up on his invitation to visit him in Samobor.
From Darcy Rowley, son of Dave Rowley:
It is my sad duty to inform you that Dad passed away last Friday. A sudden and unexpected heart attack occurred during Thursday night leading to a second taking his life as he was being prepared for surgery.
I know all those who knew him will sorely miss him. I cannot currently find the words to express how much he meant to me and how glad I am to have known him, even if that time was still far too short.
As well as myself, Dad also leaves behind my sister, his daughter Leila and the new love of his life Suzana.
I know Dad wouldn't want anyone to become overly maudlin at his passing so I will just ask that the next time you're having a good single malt that you raise a quick toast to him.
Many thanks,
Darcy Rowley
Personal and Professional Creative Interests
Dave Rowley's portfolio - displayed his personal interest "in the visual display of information, particularly how to portray large data sets. Most of the time he used more traditional methods than tag clouds, but these have a special beauty."
He was particularly interested in a new, free presentation format using Prezzi. One of his presentations using this format was an interesting and information Presentation on Stuttering and Anxiety
Additional Prezi presentations by Rowley
Mendeley Research Networks
Merry Christmas, Folks
Memories of Dave T. Rowley
Judy Kuster (April 15, 2015) - Although we were at the ISA conference in Cavtat, Croatia at the same time, I don't recall meeting Dave Rowley in person. I was a Facebook friend and I've corresponded with him a few times. He also invited me to join a new group he was forming "We need a Pirate Bay for Academic Papers" but it never got off the ground before he passed away. Bless his heart, he once put online "The best page about stuttering is the one maintained by Judy Kuster. This is The Stuttering Homepage. And the best blog is Tom Weidig's The Suttering Brain. Take a look!"
Margaret M. Leahy, Dublin, Ireland (April 16, 2015) - I met Dave Rowley during the 1980s, probably around the time of an Oxford Dysfluency Conference, and along with various colleagues interested in stuttering, we had some fine times chatting over a drink or two, looking for - and finding - entertainment, but also planning research, writing, and networking. The energy, enthusiasm and organizational skills that Dave brought to projects were greatly appreciated, and he liked a successful completion of anything undertaken. Dave and Harry Purser were Series Editors for a set of Whurr clinical textbooks on linguistics, communication disorders, and psychology, as well as collaborations with Lena Rustin to present texts on fluency disorders. I was one of the authors who edited a clinical text in their series, and experienced at first hand the supportive effect of their organizational abilities.
Later, Dave was external examiner for our course at Trinity College Dublin, and once again, his work was much appreciated. He brought a sense of humor to the work, but was also fine-tuned to the needs of the students and staff.
I wish to express heartfelt sympathy to Dave's family, and especially to Suzana, who must be numb with shock and disbelief at this sad time.
You will be sorely missed, Dave, at meetings and conferences on fluency disorders. We will remember you with warmth and smiles. Requiescat in pace.
Joseph Lukong (April 16, 2015) - Dave was very supportive of our work in Fluency Disorders in Cameroon since the early 2000. I met him personally at the IFA conference in Dublin in 2006 and at the ISA world Congress in Croatia in 2007. He was a very smart. helpfully and friendly person. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues in the field offluency Disorders.
The Michael Palin Centre (April 17, 2015) - We are very sad to hear of the sudden death of our colleague and friend, Dave Rowley. Dave will be recognised and known by many for his role in organising and chairing the Oxford Dysfluency Conference. He was always aware of the importance of making links between research and clinical practice, that research should inform practice and that practice should shape research. He was interested in how other disciplines could develop our field and was open to new perspectives and ideas, bringing a fresh dimension to the programme at ODC.
Dave had a generous spirit and he was supportive and encouraging to new researchers and clinicians while also valuing the experience of those who had been in the field for longer. His ego was small, he was more likely to allow and encourage someone else to take the limelight than to promote himself in any way, but he was assertive when he needed to be! Dave was completely unflappable, the most calm and easy-going person you could ever meet. His 'it'll be fine' attitude was at times reassuring and at times unsettling, but it was rarely wrong! He was gentle, loyal and humorous.
We will miss you, Dave.
Leonard Stephen Deas (May 12, 2015) - I was at school at Pocklington with David.He was a quiet, serious, purposeful boy, old for his years and interested in psychology. He was already reading Freud. I remember him telling me that human beings may have begun to sing to themselves so as not to be thought foolish for talking to themselves; human behaviour and the reasons for it fascinated David from an early age. I lost touch with him for many years but was delighted to meet him again at Pocklington some years ago; still the same gentle, intelligent, curious, courteous man. How good and useful a life he led. Requiescat in pace.
