ROBERT (BOB) FERRIS BOWMAN

03/10/1947 - 08/25/2023

A magnificent life. An even more magnificent human being. Kind, loving, compassionate and the first to be there for someone else, Robert “Bob” Ferris Bowman defined what it means to be a gentle and kind man. He had so much to give the world and those he loved – which was each and every person he touched. As kind and beautiful a soul as he was, Bob was also a fierce competitor. He fought against any wrong and perhaps his greatest fight was against an illness that he valiantly and courageously fought and overcame time after time. After a life rich with experiences and journeys, he passed away peacefully on August 25, 2023, in Houston, Texas, following a courageous five-month battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, finally choosing his new home in Heaven.

His story is defined by love. Bob is survived by his loving wife, Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman; daughter Leigh Bowman, son-in-law Michael Winetsky and granddaughter Gloria; stepdaughter and sonin-law Laura Max and Ben Rose and granddaughters Selma, Violet and Jolene; sister Ann Cornwell; nieces Judy Fahrmeier and Carol A. Huff; nephews David (Dave) B.

Lloyd and Robert Cornwell; and, his adoring four-legged son, Bugsy.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Ferris L. and Dorothy Bowman; his son David Charles Bowman; his sister Nancy C. Lloyd; and his brothers-in-law Clarence “Cal” A. Lloyd and Ralph Cornwell.

Robert Ferris Bowman, affectionately known as Bob, was born on March 10, 1947, at Meridian Hospital in Indianapolis, Iowa, to proud parents Ferris L. Bowman and Dorothy Marie Quiggle Bowman. Bob’s journey through life took him to various corners of the United States, including residences in Indianapolis, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Yuma, Beeville, Austin, New York City, Dallas, Des Moines, and Atlanta, then retiring in Austin and ultimately moving to Houston to be with the love of his life, his wife of three-anda-half years, Leisa.

An ardent reader and student of life, Bob’s academic pursuits led him to Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Iowa, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1969. A member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Wabash, he played college basketball and on city intramural basketball leagues, embodying his spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship.

His dedication to his country took him to military service in the United States Marine Corps from 1970 to 1975, where Bob achieved the rank of Marine Captain and Naval Aviator. A remarkable moment for him was breaking the sound barrier in 1970 during a training mission, which he remembered fondly. He was honorably discharged in 1975 and went on to earn an MBA in Economics from The University of Texas McCombs School of Business in 1977.

One of Bob’s most loved leisure activities was the game of golf. A scratch golfer, his achievements on the golf course were noteworthy. He secured numerous golf championships and was a proud member of The Hills Country Club in Lakeway, among others. He volunteered his time as a docent at the Holocaust Museum Houston and pursued education with unrelenting passion—for two decades, he took graduate courses each year, demonstrating his belief in the power of knowledge to shape one’s perspective and potential.

Bob’s warm and welcoming nature endeared him to all who had the privilege of knowing him. He had a unique ability to make strangers feel like friends and ensured that everyone felt included and valued. His lifelong friend and colleague, Bob Cunnen, eloquently described him by the quote, “The game of life is not so much in holding a good hand as in playing a poor hand well.” Former CEO of Equitable of Iowa, Fred Hubbell, described him as “…one of the most trusted investment professionals at Equitable. His management of the corporate bond portfolio helped to ensure the sale of the Company to ING…”. In business as in life, Bob left his mark.

A memorial service will take place at Congregation Beth Israel at 5600 North Braeswood Blvd., Houston, Texas, 77096 at 11:00 AM on Thursday, August 31, 2023, followed by a meal of condolence. The memorial service will be live-streamed on the Congregation Beth Israel website: www.beth-israel. org. A private burial will take place prior to the memorial service.

Honorary Pallbearers are Rusty Burnett, Wally Cox, Robert Cunnen, Brad Deutser, Bobby Deutser, Scott Evans, Michael Francisco, Buman Ginsberg, David Hargrove, Jeff Henry, Jeff Hirschberg, Fred Hubbel, Eric Anthony Jansen, Jack Lee, Steve Winter, Russell Weil, Thomas McGhie, Alan Pactor, Peter John Pavluk, Nick Rockecharlie, and Paul Schlaak.

The family wishes to extend a special note of gratitude to Dr. Hussein A. Abbas of M.D Anderson, who took incredible care of Bob and tried everything he could to fight this disease, to the nurses at Houston Hospice for their care and concern, and of course to Bob’s Angels who showed up for him daily through his hours of need!

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society of Greater Houston, Holocaust Museum of Houston, Congregation Beth Israel, or Hermann Park Conservancy.

Bob and Leisa shared a love of many things, including their fondest—listening to music and dancing together, often in the living room of their beautiful home where Bob would whisk Leisa away to a Frank Sinatra song or similar tune. This verse from Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “All I Ask of You” held special importance to them:

Say you love me every waking moment,

Turn my head with talk of summertime.

Say you need me with you now and always;

Promise me that all you say is true,

That’s all I ask of you.

Bob, we will always love you every waking moment… and need you now and always.