Roland Kowal Obituary

Kowal, Dr. Roland DDS MD Of Oakbrook, Illinois and Marco Island, Florida died in late spring in Naples, Florida. He was ninety years old. He was an Otolaryngologist/plastic and reconstructive surgeon leading the ENT Department at Oak Park Hospital, Gottlieb Hospital and a member of the medical staff at Good Samaritan Hospital, Westlake Hospital and West Suburban Hospital. During World War II, Dr. Kowal served as a dentist in the United States Army Air Corps, stationed in North Africa, India and Burma. He served as dentist to the Maharaja and his family while in India. Upon his return to the United States, he enrolled in the Chicago Medical School and specialized in Otolaryngology. Dr. Kowal practiced medicine for over forty years, and later shared his expertise as a volunteer at charity clinics and providing expert testimony for Social Security Disability matters. He had been President of the medical staff at Oak Park Hospital and was a founding partner of the Highland Medical Center in Lombard. According to his friend and colleague Dr. Burton Roth, Dr. Kowal was always a friendly and pleasant person. He was a member of the adjunct ENT faculty at Loyola Medical Center and at the University of Illinois. He was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and of the Chicago Otolaryngology Society. Dr. Kowal was born in Chicago and was married to Eugenia C. Kowal in 1945. He was an avid tennis player and was an early member of the Oakbrook Bath and Tennis Club and numerous tennis groups in South Florida. He and Genie spent their retirement winters in Marco Island, Florida, enjoying many friends from around the country and the world. Many of these friends traveled together during the summer months to Switzerland, France and throughout the U.S. Dr. Kowal and Genie are survived by their sons, Roland (Ann Wilhelmina Kuppe) and Vernon (Janet) grandchildren Alison, Andrew and Alex and their nephew William D. Galloway. They will be greatly missed by their many friends and colleagues cultivated throughout their lives. Donations in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Kowal can be made to the Chicago Medical School (Dr. John Sheinin Memorial Scholarship Fund), c/o Rosalind Franklin University. 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, Illinois, 60064. Family and friends to gather Wednesday, August 3rd for memorial visitation 8:30AM until time of Memorial Mass at: Ascension Church 1S314 Summit Ave. Oakbrook Terrace Interment Bronswood Cemetery-Oak Brook, Illinois. Arrangements by DuPage Cremations, Ltd. and Memorial Chapel 800-588-1132.