JAN ROWAN / 1945-2006
Mother of sumo Grand Champion Akebono dies
Jan Rowan, mother of Akebono, the first foreign-born wrestler to reach sumo's highest rank of yokozuna, or grand champion, died Tuesday at the Castle Medical Center. She was 60.
Akebono, or Chad Rowan, became yokozuna in 1993 and was known for his powerful thrusting style. Persistent knee injuries forced him to retire in 2001.
Akebono's mother was known for her Waimanalo store, Sumo Connection, popular among Japanese and local visitors during Akebono's reign.
Rowan originally opened the store, where she sold souvenirs and showcased Akebono's trophies, on Kapahulu Avenue in 1993, shortly after her son became yokozuna.
Bus loads of Japanese tourists would visit her store to take pictures with Rowan, said Al Torres, 72, Rowan's oldest brother.
"They loved to take pictures with her because she was Chad's mom," he said. "When she wasn't there, the crowd was different."
With no one left to run the store, the family plans to shut its doors, Torres said.
Rowan, who grew up in Kalihi and was described as an athletic youth, did not like the idea of her eldest son, Chad, living in Japan. He left in 1988 to begin training.
"She didn't want him to be far away," Torres said.
She became a big supporter, traveling often with her late husband to watch him compete.
"She liked it in Japan, especially in the fall months -- the weather was cooler," said her younger sister, Gerry Ramirez. "They pretty much went for every major event."
Rowan, a mother of three boys and a stepson, later adopted two hanai children, one a 3-year-old girl with physical disabilities who is now 31.
"She liked having her family members around her all the time," Ramirez said.
Ramirez also recalled Rowan's store as a place to socialize.
When she first opened her shop on Kapahulu, she would invite the homeless in, telling Ramirez to buy them lunch.
"They all called her aunty," Ramirez said. "What I remember about her most is her generous spirit. If you had any kind of problem, you could come to her and she would listen. She never really gave you her opinion; she just would listen to you."
Rowan is survived by sons Chad, George and Randy; stepson Patrick McDougall; hanai son Keone Garrett; hanai daughter Windy Pua; 13 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; brothers Nolan Ramirez and Al "Freddy" Torres; sisters Lorraine Lundberg, Evalani "Nani" Pero, Gerry Ramirez and Yvonne "Bonnie" Rill; and hanai brother John Orsini.
Visitation is at Borthwick Mortuary on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with service at 10:30 a.m. Inurnment is at Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery at 2 p.m. The family requests aloha attire.