Cowan Family

Joseph was the eldest of four children born in London on 7th January 1883. They were the children of Henry Cohen. At an early age of six, his father passed away leaving his mother, without adequate financial means, to support and educate her children, which she did zealously and selflessly. His education was that of an ordinary child appropriate to that time. At thirteen after attaining his Bar mitzvah, he entered the world to ‘earn his living’, help provide for the home and ‘to make his own way.’  Because of blatant 19 th Century antisemitism in England, like so many Jewish families, Joseph and his brothers changed their names to Cowan so they could more easily blend into English society.

Joseph was granted the status “Freeman of the City of London”, an honor of dignity seldom bestowed on many people even less to a Jew. Later, as a commercial traveler in Africa, selling belts, braces and hosiery, in the Belgian Congo, he met 26-year-old Hetty Levy and they were later married on 3 November 1914 in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia.  

At the beginning of WWI Joseph joined the Rhodesian Jewish Volunteers in May 1916. During this time, they gave birth to two sons, Henry and Ronald, both born in Bulawayo.  

Hettie never fully recovered after the birth of Ronald (17, November 1917) so they moved back to London. Hettie eventually passed away leaving Joseph to raise the two boys alone. 

While only 15 years old, Ronald started working as a salesman at Joseph Cowan Agencies in London, while his father Joseph and brother Henry left him behind and went back to Rhodesia.  

From 1935-37 Ronald was the sole representative for Aberdale Cycles in the Midlands England until 1938 when he had saved up enough money to travel to Port Elizabeth, South Africa where he was employed by Steeldrill Clothing Manufacturers.  

WWII broke out, and in 1940 Ronald volunteered to join the South African Army where he served in the 12 th Field Ambulance Medical Corps in East Africa, Somaliland (Ethiopia), Egypt and participated in the North African Tobruk Campaign. He was discharged in 1943. Ronald Cowan received several medals: The Bronze Star; The Africa Star; The Defense Medal from King George VI; and the Africa Service Medal – 1939 – 1945. He later received the Rhodesian Police Reserve Medal for Faithful Service. 

Henry Cowan was one of the many Jewish airmen who volunteered to fly in the Royal Air Force. He was a Flight Lieutenant who received a ‘Commendation Award for Valuable Services in the Air’  in His Majesty’s 1945 Honors List. Later, Henry became the deputy – commander of the Rhodesian Police Air Wing during the Bush War. 

Ronald had met Freda Kolnick prior to his enlistment and asked her to wait for his return to Port Elizabeth. She did and they married 2 weeks later. Freda Kolnick was the youngest daughter of the well-known Kolnick Zionist family.  

Later, In Port Elizabeth, they had two sons, Douglas born on October 27, 1945, and Joel Peter, born on July 1, 1948.  

From 1943 to 1946 Ronald was employed as the regional manager in the Eastern Cape for Frank & Hirsch manufacturers ; distributors of jewelry, ornaments, novelties and gifts. Later he established himself as the regional sales manager and sole representative for the Cape Province for Rex Trueform Clothing Manufacturers from 1946 – 1950. 

The Cowan’s decided to return to Rhodesia to make a home for Joseph who was living on his own. The first home was built at #8 Bishops Road in Belvedere, Salisbury. The family later moved to #39 Pollet Ave., also in Belvedere.  

In 1950 Ronald partnered with brother Henry to become an active partner and Company Director/Sales Manager of H and R Cowan Agencies – Importer and Sole Distributors of more than two dozen lines of goods from around the world. For a while they had an office on 64 Fort Street in Bulawayo above the Fortwell Trading Store, owned by Harry and Edith Levin. Ronald Saul Cowan became a very prominent figure in public life in Salisbury.  

Ronnie Cowan was one of the founding members of the Jewish Wingate Park Country Club Lawn Bowling. Wingate was formed because many sports clubs did not permit Jews to join them. Ronnie Cowan represented Rhodesia in the 1957 Maccabi Games in Israel and led his team to win a Silver Medal in the Men’s Rinks Bowls Competition.  

In 1970 he was elected to the City Council of Salisbury, Rhodesia. 1975 -76 he was elected Deputy-Mayor of the City and elected and inaugurated as Mayor on Civic Sunday 2nd October 1977. The Mayoral Service was held at the Salisbury Hebrew Congregation at Milton Park Jewish Center Synagogue.  

The service was attended by The President of Rhodesia, The Hon. J.J. Wrathall, G.M.L.M., I.D. and Mrs. Wrathall, City Alderman, Councilors and Heads of Departments. The service was conducted by the Mayor’s Chaplain, the Rev. Philip Copperman, F.L.C.M., L.R.A.M. assisted by the Sharon School Choir under the direction of Mrs. Aliza Hatchuel.  

During his years as a Councilman, Ronald Cowan held the following positions:  Chairman of the Public Health Committee; Chairman of the Town planning and Works Committee; Member of the Finance and Development Committee; Vice-Chairman of the Andrew Fleming Hospital Committee. He was a supporter of the old age home, was the President of the Association for the Rehabilitation of Prisoner’s, and a member of the
Rehabilitation Committee of Drug Addicts and Drunks. 

He was in charge of Civil Defense in Salisbury, held a Fire Fighter’s Certificate, and was a member of the Police Reserve – in charge of his area in emergencies. He was also a member of the Police Club Bowls section.   

He was a recognized member of the Medical Council and was the only one permitted to practice Medical Hypnosis for the cure of dozens of disorders. Ronald lectured at the University of Rhodesia Faculty of Medicine on Hypnotherapy. He also Appeared on TV and radio with a series of lectures on hypnosis and research in the field.

After 10 years of continual service Ronald S. Cowan was appointed to the dignity of ALDERMAN on 13th October 1980. Ronnie and Freda left Rhodesia after it became Zimbabwe to live near Freda’s family in Port Elizabeth and later made Aliya to Israel to be near Douglas and Joel. They lived and passed away in Netanya.   

Douglas and Joel were both educated at Belvedere Junior School and Prince Edward High School. They both played 1st XII Hockey – Douglas earned a Team Blazer and Joel got colors. Douglas became the Cadet Band Seargent Major. Both Douglas and Joel played hockey for Old Hararians Sports Club. Both Joel and Douglas were
members of the Salisbury Betar Zionist Youth Movement.  

Douglas, after graduating from High School in 1964, went on a CAZO bursary to Machon LeMadrichei Chuts LeAretz in Jerusalem to study for a year. When he returned Douglas went to Cape Town to open the Western Province Betar office, train youth leaders and produce the HeChazon magazine.   

Before going to Israel as a volunteer prior to the 6-Day War in June 1967, Douglas worked for Dolphie Wisik at Non-Ferrous Metal Works in Salisbury. After the war, he volunteered to attend the Israel Air Force Flight School. One of the requirements in those days that all graduating pilots had to have or adopt biblical or modern Hebrew names and not names from the diaspora. Douglas was told to pick a name, or he would have one chosen for him. So, he chose the biblical name of Dotan, the name of the place where biblical Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers.

Douglas served for more than 20 years as a helicopter pilot, intelligence officer and air safety investigator. Today, Douglas lives with his wife Connie in Houston, Texas where he has co-founded a digital technology-enabled healthcare provider company addressing the needs of high-risk, the most vulnerable and underserved patients     www.DigitalDoctorsAtHome.com 

When Joel and his wife Tami made Aliyah with their two daughters, Sharon and Yael, and son Daniel, they also adopted the name Dotan. Both girls were officers in the IDF. Daniel is still active in the Israel Air Force reserves and is currently completing Medical School in Jerusalem.

Douglas’ son, Alon, is a partner in a shipping insurance company in Israel and his eldest son, Yahel, was a Seargent and squad leader in the IDF Sayeret HaNachal serving in the October 7, 2023-24 Gaza operations. Alon’s youngest son, Ariel is in his last year in high school. He is an outstanding surfer, and any day of the year when there are waves off the Herzliya beach people watch him in awe perform.