Remember

Mr. Robert S. Bowen

  • December 4, 1937 - November 18, 2009
  • Annapolis, Maryland
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Memories & Candles

“So sorry to find this notice of Bob's death on the Internet. I was wondering why I had not heard from him in some time, but he passed away shortly...Read More » ”
1 of 48 | Posted by: Susan Bryant - Mt. Pleasant, SC

“The "Light" that is you continues to burn brightly in many hearts and minds. ”
2 of 48 | Posted by: Karen Dickerson - Good Friend

“May GOD continue to bless this family during their loss. ”
3 of 48 | Posted by: Lutrina Frazier - Friend

“Mr. Bowen was one of the best supervisor I ever had. He was caring, honest and a family man. I was his assistant for a short time before he retired...Read More » ”
4 of 48 | Posted by: Lutrina Frazier (Tina) - MD

“We are so sorry to hear about the death of Bob. Anne and Tom , I just found out today about your Father's death. I am sorry I didn't know when he...Read More » ”
5 of 48 | Posted by: Jane and Jim Pehlke - Annapolis , MD

“Our condolences go out to the family of Bobby Bowen. Enjoyed seeing Bob when he came to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to visit with our Grandmother...Read More » ”
6 of 48 | Posted by: Westlund and Stevenson Families (Evora Schaefer) - MI

“Bob will be missed. I had the honor and privilege of working alongside Bob while at Group 1 Software. To this day, I still recall Bob’s sharp wit,...Read More » ”
7 of 48 | Posted by: Daniel Stainer - Slippery Rock, PA

“I have waited until today to write my tribute so that I can give Bob my goodbye tribute on what would have been his 72nd birthday. Mine is tomorrow...Read More » ”
8 of 48 | Posted by: Tag Cutchis - Highland, MD

“One of my fondest memories about Mr. Bowen was he took the time to pass out Christmas gifts to everyone in the company. Those were the good Group 1...Read More » ”
9 of 48 | Posted by: Mady Hamilton - Bowie, MD

“The passing of my friend RB hits my heart with great sadness. He was by far the best boss I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with. He always...Read More » ”
10 of 48 | Posted by: Michelle Diaz - Miami, FL

“Our deepest sympathies on the loss of a true gentleman. ”
11 of 48 | Posted by: Jeanne and Charles Bolton - MD

“My prayers go out to the Bowen family/ ”
12 of 48 | Posted by: Elbert Fortson

“Our deepest condolences. ”
13 of 48 | Posted by: Luis A. Valdes

“Mr. Robert S. Bowen was the first CEO I have ever gotten to know, even a little. Oh, the warmth, while still toiling away for 16-20 hours per day....Read More » ”
14 of 48 | Posted by: Luis A. Valdes - Bel Air, MD

“My deepest condolences to Thom and Anne. I had the pleasure and honor of working for your father for several years at Comnet / Group 1. The trust and...Read More » ”
15 of 48 | Posted by: Gina King - Edgewater, MD

“My deepest sympathy to Bob's family. So many memories, so many stories and so many lessons. Bob had a profound impact on the personal and...Read More » ”
16 of 48 | Posted by: Steve Dodd - Toronto, Canada

“Mr. Bowen was one of the best CEO that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. My fondest memories were during holidays. Just loved those...Read More » ”
17 of 48 | Posted by: Dean Hodgson - Adelphi, MD

“Bob's support and rewards for outstanding sales performance motivated many of us to higher levels of achievement at Group 1. He always enjoyed...Read More » ”
18 of 48 | Posted by: John Kammerer

“Bob assembled an executive management team of incredibly passionate leaders -- each member's tenacity, energy and intellect rivaled Bob's own. I...Read More » ”
19 of 48 | Posted by: Ann Jurczyk - Williamsburg, VA

“I am sad to hear that Bob Bowen has passed away. When I was with Group 1 he was greatly respected and well liked. Mike and I particularly admired his...Read More » ”
20 of 48 | Posted by: Deirdre Barron - Canada

“I never worked with Bob, but I knew him socially through some other folks, and I got to spend time with him on several occasions. Two special treats...Read More » ”
21 of 48 | Posted by: Scott Dalrymple - Columbia, MD

“I attach this small poem as a balm for family members that survive him; it’s also for those of us who will miss the tributes he paid to us with his...Read More » ”
22 of 48 | Posted by: Thomas Chirayath - Reston, VA

“It is with sadness to hear of Bob's passing. He instilled in all Group 1 employees that our foremost objective is the total, unreserved satisfaction...Read More » ”
23 of 48 | Posted by: Randall Bryan - Laurel, MD

“My favorite Memory of Mr Bowen was the annual Christmas luncheon and seeing him serving the employees. Mr. Bowen was one of those people that made...Read More » ”
24 of 48 | Posted by: Edward Johnson

“Mr. Bowen was a great business teacher, coach, cheerleader, and friend. I learned so much about the business world from him, and will miss him...Read More » ”
25 of 48 | Posted by: Maura Betler - Sedona, AZ

“I learned more from Bob than I ever realized at the time - mostly how to conduct oneself in any business situation with class. That was a rare...Read More » ”
26 of 48 | Posted by: Paul Tarlow - Austin, TX

“Working for Bob was one of my greatest learning experiences. And while his business acumen is unquestioned, it was his ability to separate work from...Read More » ”
27 of 48 | Posted by: Ken Chow - Laurel, MD

“Dear Thom and Anne, I was deeply saddened to hear the news that your father passed away. Your father truly was a great inspiration to me. I had the...Read More » ”
28 of 48 | Posted by: Juan Tosoni - Annapolis, MD

“Mr. Bowen I remember was a pleasant and a very nice man when I ran into him at Group 1. He left many footprints in many lives and I can say most...Read More » ”
29 of 48 | Posted by: Denise McElhaney

“I had the priviledge of working for Bob at Group 1 starting in Nov. of 1999 and continuing through until his retirement. Not only did he build an...Read More » ”
30 of 48 | Posted by: Ronna Rhoads - Grasonville, MD

“Bob touched lives all over the globe. I am blessed to have had him be a part of my life for close to 20 years now... I've seen the diplomat, the...Read More » ”
31 of 48 | Posted by: Patty Cutchis

“I worked at Group1 from 1990 - 1994, and I had the greatest respect for Mr Bowen. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word. When he and his...Read More » ”
32 of 48 | Posted by: Risa Lapidow - New Carrollton, MD

“He was my best friend and I will miss him forever. One thing is certain to me. God is no longer in charge. The sign at heaven's gate now reads: Mr....Read More » ”
33 of 48 | Posted by: Eileen Townsend - Wake Forest, NC

“I'm deeply saddened to hear about the loss of such a great man who made a difference in so many lives including my own. I am forever greatful to have...Read More » ”
34 of 48 | Posted by: Diana Fair

“Bob Bowen was a captain of a ship that we all were proud to serve as mates. Group 1 Software still sails in your memory. "Blessed are they that...Read More » ”
35 of 48 | Posted by: Sidney Russell - Upper Marlboro, MD

“My mom and Bob were friends for as long as I can remember... so even though I'm in my 20s now, my fondest memory of Bob is him coming to our house...Read More » ”
36 of 48 | Posted by: Cassi Cutchis - College Park, MD

“Mr. Bowen has been, and always will be, the yardstick by which I measure other CEOs . He was a true gentleman and a very real person. I’ll never...Read More » ”
37 of 48 | Posted by: Joanne Walsh - Annapolis, MD

“My fondest memory of Bob was in the year 2000 when I went on my first Group 1 Software trip. My wife was 8 months pregnant so I took my father. Bob...Read More » ”
38 of 48 | Posted by: Oscar Vazquez

“To the good times so many of us shared with Bob. May you rest in peace, Bob. ”
39 of 48 | Posted by: Deborah Reynolds Diot - TX

“I first met Bob when I joined Group1 back in 2000. He welcomed me into the company and did what ever he could to make me feel at home and be...Read More » ”
40 of 48 | Posted by: Paul Webb - Basildon, Essex UK

“I lived with Anne for 4 years while attending the College of Charleston, and whenever Mr. Bowen came to visit us, you were sure to have an educating...Read More » ”
41 of 48 | Posted by: Dana Nunley Laycook - Sterling, VA

“While I did not know Mr. Bowen in a professional environment, I always enjoyed his visits to Charleston to visit his lovely daughter Anne who I had...Read More » ”
42 of 48 | Posted by: Jenny Fernandez - Arlington, VA

“My deepest condolences to Bob's children. I knew your Dad for nearly 20 years, as we joined Comnet/Group 1 within 90 days of each other in 1984. My...Read More » ”
43 of 48 | Posted by: Ron Friedman - Fort Myers, FL

“I knew Bob since he joined Comnet (which became Group 1 Software) as President and CEO in 1984. We worked together for the next 20 years in growing...Read More » ”
44 of 48 | Posted by: Alan Slater - Clifton, VA

“I truly enjoyed my time at Group 1 under the leadership of Bob Bowen. He was a wise, funny, and caring man who assembled a great group of leaders and...Read More » ”
45 of 48 | Posted by: David Peikin - Gaithersburg, MD

“I worked at Group 1 Software but also had the immense pleasure of knowing Bob outside of work. I visited his house for dinner with a couple other...Read More » ”
46 of 48 | Posted by: Betsy Keplinger

“Very nice and accurate tribute of Bob was written here. When I think back about Bob, I fondly remember trips to FL for NCDM with him. He loved to...Read More » ”
47 of 48 | Posted by: Jim Stafford - Annapolis, MD

“The management and staff of Taylor Funeral Home extends their sympathies to the family and friends of Mr. Robert S. Bowen. ”
48 of 48 | Posted by: John M. Taylor Funeral Home


Robert S. Bowen, former CEO of Group 1 Software, died November 18th at his
Annapolis home after a brief , but hard-fought battle with cancer.
Born December 4th 1937, Bob grew up in Chicago and graduated from the Swedish Covenant High School at 15. He then attended Northwestern University in a coop program, where he studied for six months and worked for International Harvester for six months each year. He was first in his graduating class from Northwestern in engineering and then went on to Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar in the top 2 1/2% of his class. He then received a Fulbright Grant to study in Sweden, a time which became one of his fondest memories.
On returning to the U.S., he was employed by the Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, Michigan, in a number of different capacities before moving back to Chicago in 1972. He worked for Zenith Radio Corp. until 1980 as Vice President of Sales and Marketing and headed up their International Division. This position involved travel to various places around the world, including Le Locle, Switzerland, where he was Chairman of the Board of Zenith Time, the parent of the Movado Watch Company. With food and wine being some of his passions, it was a perfect fit.
Bob moved to Akron, Ohio in 1980 to become President of Sales and Marketing for Firestone. This was the first time he lived in an area not on the water so earned his pilot’s license to fly his Mooney back and forth to his boat docked on the Great Lakes in Northern Michigan.
His love of water brought him to Annapolis in 1984. He and his family had been living on his boat part of each year but now became full time “live-aboards.” On moving to the Washington area, he became CEO and Chairman of the Comnet Corp., which later became Group 1 Software in Lanham, Md. He served in this position until he sold the company to Pitney Bowes in 2005 and soon after retired.
Bob was formerly on the National Board of the 4-H, Chairman of the Board of Chesapeake Academy and was the current treasurer of the SPCA. Additionally, he had recently obtained his Coast Guard Captain’s License. He was also the self-proclaimed ‘Champion of the Universe for All Time’ of Gin Rummy.
He is survived by his son, Thomas, daughter Anne, and former wife, Jane.
A memorial service will be held at the Annapolis Yacht Club at 3:00 on Tuesday, Nov. 24th. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the SPCA of A.A.C.O. P.O. Box 3471 Annapolis, MD 21403.