In Memoriam

Rockwell Townsend, aged 79, was laid to rest on July 11, 2022 in the Townsend family plot at his beloved Young’s Memorial Cemetery in Oyster Bay Cove, New York.

Rockwell was born in New York, NY and graduated from South Kent School and Princeton University. He served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1967. Shortly after his discharge, he joined the U.S. Vets for Peace in the march on the Pentagon. The following summer, he joined the protest at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

An eclectic and independent thinker, Rockwell stayed abreast of developments in American politics, astronomy, humanism, neuroscience and art. He loved airing his provocative and wide-ranging views with friends, and writing responses to the statements of politicians and news analysts.

Rockwell’s post-graduate studies focused on Ancient Egyptian civilization and language. His subsequent independent scholarship focused on the first dynasty kings in Abydos, Egypt, 5,000 years ago. He presented six papers on Abydos at conferences of the American Research Center in Egypt.

He depicted fascinating perspectives in his art works, using both traditional and modern media as he explored origins and the cosmos.

Through all these weighty ponderings coursed a refreshing stream of sheer goofiness which flowered after his beloved daughter, Mary Lane, graced his life. Together they enjoyed creating scenarios, stories and songs which often featured teddy bears and chickens.

He and Elsa Logan Townsend, his wife of 53 years, lived car-free on Russian Hill in San Francisco for 45 years. Each year, they drove 8,000 miles in rental cars to visit family and friends back east. These trips upon the North American continent afforded them rare glimpses of, and fuel for hours of conversation about, the nature of time, space, geology, and the varied cultural landscapes of the nation he knew and loved so well.

Rockwell is survived by Elsa and Mary Lane, and by his siblings, Daniel Townsend, Janet Townsend Dyrdal, and Barbara Townsend Adams.