Dr. Rowland M. Shelley, a Raleigh native, born 1942, died in Raleigh on November 11, 2018. Survived by his wife of 38 years Lourdes O. Shelley, son Stephen (Theresa), stepson Demian Hardister (Lisa), sister Gail Shelley Duncan, grandchildren Landon and Brooke Hardister, Sofia Shelley. Also surviving are three nieces and multiple great nieces and nephews.
Rowland’s lifetime passion and profession was his innate curiosity and research of millipedes and centipedes. He received over $200,000 in grant awards over his career from such institutions as the National Science Foundation, National Geographic Society and the Smithsonian Institution. He was a prolific reviewer of scientific publications (350+). He discovered, named and described 200+ new species and over 30 genera. He loved to travel with his wife Lourdes throughout six continents, 50 countries, all US States and Puerto Rico. Several millipedes were named for Rowland in his honor. His family tolerated his frequent departures from marked trails to turn over logs, rocks and leaves looking for that special millipede.
He was a 1960 graduate of Broughton High School. He received his undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in zoology in 1964 and a PhD in physiology from NC State University in 1970. He worked for 44 years as Curator of Invertebrates for the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.
He generously donated his time in the planning of the new Museum of Natural Sciences which opened in 2000 and was awarded the designation and distinction of “Museum Treasure”.
He was fascinated by trains and rode as many as possible throughout the US and many countries. Rowland could recite a train schedule on demand and was known to sit at the old and new Raleigh Union Stations to see trains arrive and depart. “All aboard” was his favorite motto, which he loved to share with the grandchildren.
Rowland was a world renowned expert on North American millipedes and centipedes. He collaborated with national and international colleagues on many research papers and will be missed as the expert he was. He mentored dozens of undergraduate and graduate students in the US and abroad, generously sharing his knowledge of millipedes and centipedes.
He was a passionate sports fan and particularly loved North Carolina basketball. He had a knack for recalling statistics, special moments and the starting five for virtually every UNC Basketball team since the 1957 NCAA Championship. Should they have cared to listen, he had coaching advice to share with coaches Dean Smith, Roy Williams, Larry Fedora and virtually every other coach of a team he loved. Later in life, he took up golf, thoroughly enjoying the game and mostly playing with his son and grandson.
His greatest joy was attending his grandchildren’s sports events and playing with his youngest granddaughter and taking her on her first collecting field trip at age two! He cherished beautiful National Parks and spectacular settings especially those with waterfalls, roaring rivers and expansive oceans. His ashes will be scattered in the ocean and in a forest near his home.
He was, truly, one of a kind.
A celebration of life service will be held 4:00pm Friday, November 16, at Unity Church of the Triangle, 5570 Munford Road, Raleigh, NC 27612. The family will receive friends immediately after the service.
The family requests no flowers; however donations in his memory will be appreciated and may be made to the Rowland Shelley biodiversity fund for students, University of Tennessee Knoxville Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, 2505 EJ Chapman Drive, 370 Plant Biotechnology Building, Knoxville TN 37996-4560.
