Thomas Ian Bowman

Thomas Ian Bowman, age 79, passed away on April 21, 2018, surrounded by his beloved family, after a short but vicious battle with lung cancer. Born on October 25, 1938 to Sidney and Marjorie Bowman, their family grew up mainly in Packanack Lake, Wayne, NJ. Tom graduated from Montclair University. He began working as a draftsman and ended his career as Configuration Manager from ITT in Nutley, NJ. In between, Tom taught in the Bronx, NY; worked for Hilton Realty in Mercerville, NJ; and managed the banquet facility at Regency House in Pompton Plains, NJ. He raised his children in High Crest Lake, West Milford, NJ. In 2002, he and his wife retired to Hendersonville, NC.

He will be terribly missed by his wife of 53 years, Freda and three daughters, Kristin Self, Jodi Bowman and Amy (Larry) Mull. (Note: This list is in birth order as he never did reveal who his favorite was.) Tom is also survived by his sister Eileen (Anthony) Spingola and his nieces and nephews. His sister Barbara Ann Tschaepe and nephew Thomas Ortman predeceased him. He enjoyed telling a good story, loved to laugh and was a master at teasing. The world will be a little less silly without him, especially for his grandchildren: Julia, Thomas, Isabelle, Charles and Aveline. He never met a weird photo that he wouldn’t “photoshop” their heads onto and he was in the midst of learning how to make pop-up cards for the youngest.

A private memorial service will be held. The family wishes to thank all of his relatives and friends for their wonderful phone calls, letters, and visits that reminded him of how much he was loved and how highly esteemed he was.

In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations may be made to Four Seasons Hospice in Hendersonville, NC (www.FourSeasonsCFL.org) or would encourage participation in Red Nose Day on May 24, 2018 to benefit children as this would embody his generosity to those who were in need and his spirit of fun.

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