Obituary of Edward F. Bowen

Edward Finley Bowen, aged 85, of Binghamton, was blessed with a gentle passing on Saturday, August 1, 2015. Born at Lourdes Hospital on November 7, 1929, he was predeceased by his parents, Dr. & Mrs. Otis (Ellen) Bowen; his wife of 50 years, Jean (Burke) Bowen; and his younger brother, William O. Bowen. He is survived by his daughters, Ann (Malcolm) Hamilton, Caroline (David) Wilson, and Jane Bowen Rudik (Steve Endres). His adult grandchildren, who thought he was the bee's knees, include Carl Hamilton, Caitlin Hamilton, Claire Hamilton, David Wilson, Alexa Rudik, and Michael Rudik III. Great-granddaughter, Madeleine Hamilton Quackenbush; aunt, Frances McMahon Fitzpatrick; niece, Andrea Bowen Wintergrass; and nephew, Brad Bowen also survive Ed. Ed was born and raised on Binghamton's West side, leaving only for college and the army. He attended Georgetown University, served in the army in Thule, Greenland, graduated from Harpur College (now Binghamton University), began a Ph.D. program at Syracuse University and called it good with a M.S. He was a master English teacher beginning his career in the Windsor Central School District (where his met his future wife, Jean, the Physical Education teacher), serving as an Adjunct instructor at Broome Community College, and retiring from the Union-Endicott School District. Upon retirement, he was a regular at several Binghamton drinking establishments, earning the nickname Steady Eddie. His daughters have been known to call him Drivers' Ed and Adult Ed, and taught their children to call him several names of the eddies along the Delaware River including Hale Eddy, Fishes Eddy, and Handsome Eddy. He comes from a colorful history of local Irishmen beginning with his immigrant great-grandfathers Bohen (a cigar maker) and McMahon (a carriage maker). Even though he couldn't keep his ancestry straight, and didn't really care that much, he is also related to local families named O'Neil, Murphy and Gorman. He was a life-long member of St. Patrick's Church, Binghamton. A Funeral Mass will be offered at St. Patrick's Church, Leroy St., Binghamton on Wednesday at 10am. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Johnson City. The family will receive friends at the J.A. McCormack Sons Funeral Home, 141 Main St., Binghamton on Tuesday from 4-6pm. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in memory of Ed may be made to St. Patrick's Church, 9 Leroy St., Binghamton, NY 13905 or WSKG Public Television, 601 Gates Rd., Vestal, NY 13850 or Project Paw, 127 Bevier St., Binghamton, NY 13904.