Roman Kowalski Jr., 22; Son of Celebrity Pets TV Host Marlen Cowpland
Bill Schenley
22-Year-Old Aspired to Open Byward Market Restaurant
FROM: The Ottawa Citizen ~
The son of Ottawa socialite and former Celebrity Pets
TV host Marlen Cowpland died suddenly last Thursday
at the age of 22.
Roman Kowalski Jr. was a student at Northwood
University in West Palm Beach, Florida, majoring in
business management. He made it to the dean's list in
2004 and 2005.
He was an athlete, competing in college soccer and
tennis tournaments. On his personal website, which
appears to have last been updated in 2005,
Mr. Kowalski wrote that he dreamed of returning to
Ottawa to open a restaurant in the Byward Market.
"Upon graduating, my career goal is to put my dream
of owning a successful restaurant into action," he
wrote.
He added that his business education would make him
a "fierce competitor" in the restaurant business.
"He was really funny, probably the funniest person I ever
met," said Alana Bandervort, 21, who attended high
school with Mr. Kowalski in Florida.
Gianfranco Dossena, 21, attended the world-renowned
Bollettieri Tennis Academy with Mr. Kowalski, but
now lives in Italy.
"He had a very good heart. He was generous and
outgoing," said Mr. Dossena, who last spoke to
Mr. Kowalski about four months ago.
Katherine Bartnik, 21, briefly dated Mr. Kowalski in high
school and has fond memories of their time together.
"He was a very good person. He had a lot of fun with
everyone."
Mr. Kowalski's mother is married to Michael
Cowpland, who co-founded Mitel Corp. in 1973,
founded Corel Corp. in 1985 and now leads Zim Corp.
The notice of death provided by the family did not
indicate the cause of death. Attempts to reach the
family for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.