David Cowan

How long have you been in Arizona?
My wife, Deborah, and I moved from Pennsylvania to Green Valley in 2006. And in 2022 we moved to Tucson.

How long have you worshiped at Saint Philip’s?
Since 2011. I remember it well because it was shortly after Gabriel Giffords was shot. We attended Saint Philip’s for the first time and were touched by the thoughtfulness of the service and the meeting afterwards.

There was a forum after the service that invited people to talk about their feelings related to the shooting. It was a comfort during a difficult time.

How are you involved at Saint Philip’s?
I volunteer as an usher. I love welcoming people and seeing the diversity of people who worship here.

What’s kept you involved with the parish?
The overwhelming reason is that Saint Philip’s accepts people wherever they are on their faith journey. It doesn’t matter if someone is a cradle Episcopalian or exploring their faith—all are accepted. That’s a big, important reason for me.

And then there’s the setting, the liturgy, and the music. All create an atmosphere that encourages me to reflect.

Were you raised in a faith tradition?
I was raised in the Christian Church or what is sometimes called the Disciples of Christ. As I child I went to Sunday school and to church on Sundays—sometimes twice. I grew away from that as I got older.

What brought you back to church?
I was a professor at Gettysburg (Lutheran) College. Going to chapel was a good experience for my family and me, and it helped me form a friendship with the chaplain. He and I eventually hiked all over the country together.

Where did you grow up?
I was born next to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas but grew up in small towns in the hill country. Think Kerrville, Texas area.

What did you do professionally before retiring?
I was a Physics Professor. I had to lie about my major to get a date in college—ha!

I preferred the classroom but eventually became an administrator. I served as Department Chairman, Assistant to the President, and Dean of Enrollment and Educational Services.

You had a second job at the same time, right?
I did. I was also involved in rural electric cooperatives for 24 years. The cooperatives are owned by the people who get the electricity—not an investor or city.

There are more than 800 of them across the country and they provide about 12% of the electricity we consume.

For six years I was a Board Officer of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Assocation, and served as its President for two years. The Association represented the 800+ cooperatives on Capitol Hill and provided a wide range of services.

What about that work captured your interest?
I really appreciated connecting with people from different walks of life.

On my local board, for example, everyone had a farming background except for me. I respected that they knew how to run a business and had knowledge I didn’t. I made sure not to be the smart-ass college professor who thought he knew all the answers so I worked hard to fit in.

The work also made me respect even more the hardships endured by my rural grandparents. And it gave me an opportunity to travel. As President, I dedicated a dam in Costa Rica.

I guess if I’m proud about anything, it’s my work with those cooperatives.

What’s one of your core values?
I really try to be a person of my word. If I say I’ll do something, then I do it.

Honesty is important to me, too.

What’s one of your guiding principles?
A sense of responsibility to my family. If I didn’t have that I might have given up more easily. But I don’t want to let them down so I soldier on even when times get tough.

Did you ever make a decision that had a real impact on your life?
Getting divorced and marrying my current wife, Deborah. We’ve been married 30 years now. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.

How do you like to spend your time?
I love to learn. I’m especially interested in the intersection of science and faith, and how they complement one another. I also take quite a few adult learning classes through OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute).

I have a passing interest in poetry; I mostly read it.

And I do a lot of puzzles: wordle, sudoku, and crosswords.

Do you have a hobby?
I enjoy birding. Our area is wonderful for that.

My annual goal is to see 300 different species in Arizona for the year, but I haven’t achieved it yet. It’s enough of an intellectual exercise that it keeps me occupied.

For 15 years I’ve gone birding every Friday with a retired MIT professor. At the end of the day we celebrate our effort with a beer.

You’ve suffered real loss, haven’t you?
My mother died when I was 18 years old. That made my sister and I grow even closer.

My younger son lived until he was only 28 years old. As the youngest person in his high school class of 300, he was valedictorian of his high school class, president of the student council, co-captain of his wrestling team, won a national writing award, and attended Stanford University. He was a star.

But he developed schizophrenia and died far too early.

Even 25 years after his death, I think of him almost every day. When he was 15 years old he saved my life while we were hiking in the Sierras.

What’s something you’re pleased about?
I’m happy that, despite the ravages of old age, I’m still in reasonably good shape. I have ailments but I exercise regularly and can still get out and get things done.

What’s something you find challenging?
I piddle around with writing but when I read what I’ve written and compare it to other authors I never think my stuff makes the cut.

I’m trying to write about experiences in a senior living setting but I’m struggling. My efforts to combine humor and pathos aren’t working out so well.

What’s something you’re grateful for?
I’m grateful I have a loving wife. I’m grateful I have a son who I’m very close to. I’m grateful for my step-daughter and her intrepid spirit which contends with several challenges. I never feel alone.

What’s one of your super powers?
I guess I would have to say my sense of humor. People have told me I have a quick wit, and it can defuse tense situations.

But I think it also covers up my insecurities. I think of it as a crutch sometimes that helps me hide my complexes.

What’s something about you that friends have said they really appreciate?
That even if we have different opinions we can talk about them without being at each other’s throats.

Sure, my buttons can be punched but I try to keep a curious mind. I think that goes back to being a scientist and also being a person of faith. I can always learn something from someone.

Is there a talent you wish you had?
I can’t sing a lick so I wish I could be a world-class singer.

I love the human voice. I work out five days a week and when I exercise I listen mostly to choral music. I find it inspirational and a wonderful way to bridge differences between people.

Are there things you wish were different in your life?
I miss being able to hike and backpack like I used to. And I really miss my grandkids who live in Miami.

A huge regret is that I never learned a second language. I would love to speak French.

What’s a fun fact about you?
I ran the New York City marathon (for the first and only time) when I was 56 years old. It was one of the most funs things I ever did.

What made it so much fun?
The surprising community support we received in every borough. I never expected a Norwegian community in Brooklyn to cheer me on.

I thought about running the marathon again but laid down until those thoughts went away!