Obituary of Raymond Cobb Bowen

Dr. Raymond Cobb Bowen, II, age 86, transitioned Monday, August 23, 2021. Dr. Bowen was born September 19, 1934 in New Haven, CT. He was married to Mrs. Joan Bowen. The Homegoing Celebration for Dr. Bowen will be held on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 in the Chapel of Vaughn C. Greene Funeral Services, 8728 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD (21133), where the family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. with services to follow. The interment will take place at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery on Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. OBITUARY Raymond Cobb Bowen, scientist turned college administrator, was born September 19, 1934 in New Haven, Connecticut. Growing up in the Elm Haven public housing projects, Bowen's parents, Raymond Curtis Bowen and Lucille Cobb Bowen, were frustrated in their attempts to gain a higher education and wanted more for their son. He attended Baldwin and Winchester elementary schools and graduated from James Hillhouse High School in 1952. He earned a B.A. in zoology in 1956 from the University of Connecticut, an M.S. in biology from the University of New Mexico in 1962 and a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut in parasitology and biochemistry in 1966. From 1956 to 1959, Bowen served in the United States Army. Beginning his professional career in post-doctoral research at Ohio Wesleyan University and the University of Illinois (1966-67), Bowen was an assistant professor of biology at Cleveland State University in 1968 when black student and community leaders called for black college administrators at the school. Bowen, with student support, accepted an offer to become assistant to the president and then dean of developmental programs at Cleveland State University from 1968 to 1971. At LaGuardia Community College of the City University of New York, Bowen was hired as associate professor of natural sciences in 1971, but within the same year was made associate dean of faculty and then in 1973, he became dean of academic affairs. In 1975, Bowen accepted the post of vice president for academic and student affairs for the Community College of Baltimore. In 1982, he was appointed president of Shelby State Community College in Memphis. Back at LaGuardia Community College, Bowen served a joint appointment as president and professor of natural and applied sciences from 1989 to 1999. Bowen spearheaded collaborations with The Dominican Republic, China, South Africa, Columbia and the United Kingdom. Retired in 1999, he served as visiting professor at the Morgan State University Graduate School. A prolific writer, Bowen has published widely and was in demand as a consultant on multiculturalism and diversity. Bowen served on the board of Phelps-Stokes Fund and the American Council on Education among many other affiliations. Among his many awards was the designation by Black Issues in Higher Education as One of the Outstanding College Leaders of the 20th Century. (Source: The History Makers). Dr. Bowen was an emeritus member of the National Association of Guardsmen Inc., Manhattan Chapter. Raymond Bowen and Joan Massalena met in New Mexico in 1958. She was an undergraduate student at the University of New Mexico majoring in Nursing. They married on July 21, 1959. Also, he became a graduate student majoring in Biology. Both graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1961. With over 62 years of marriage, Ray and Joan were blessed to have four wonderful children: Raymond Cobb Bowen III (Patricia), Rebecca Bowen Johnson (Houston Jeffery), Ruth Joann Bowen Jones (Patrick), and Rachel Bowen Pittman (Jonathan). These blessings extended to five grandchildren: Raymond Cobb Bowen IV, Melanie Bowen, Allison Bowen, Rashod Jones (Audrianna), Cory Bowen Jones, and one great grandson, Atticus Ezra Jones. Also mourning loss is his brother Robert Thomas Bowen (Dr. Dorothy P. Bowen), sister Lucille Bowen, Brother-in-law LTC Ret Paul Nixon (Ruth), and many, many nieces, nephews, and cousins. At the time of his death, Raymond was a member of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Baltimore. He died at home (at his request surrounded by his family on August 23, 2021. To view the live streaming services of Dr. Bowen, II. please go to the home page at www.vaughncgreene.com and follow the instructions below: Click on Live Streaming Select Randallstown/Liberty Road Enter your name Click on Listen only