Kevin we miss and love you very much. You gave your life in service. Everyone who knew you were blessed in some way. And on the eve of the 10th Anniversary WCN Honors and Remembers your legacy. May God Bless his wife Stephanie and his two children.
RIP
9 -11 Memoriam Kevin Bowser Sr. Training & Development Specialist Marsh & Mclennan.
To everyone affected by September 11th directly or indirectly we pray for you, your families and loved ones. We pray for the President of the United States and World Leaders everywhere. We pray for Peace and Understanding and the Safety of all God’s People around the world.
Kevin Bowser was a Co-Worker who died preparing for a Training class no doubt as we used to many mornings at Marsh. We pray for his family and ask us all to remember the lives of those who are still suffering from this tragedy. We need healthcare approved for all first responders and those who have lost heath and financial support.
Stephanie Bowser is something of an expert on 9/11.
“I watched everything. I had to get an understanding of what happened,” she recalled, speaking about the day her husband, Kevin Bowser, died. “I’m kind of addicted. I wanted to know what people endured.”
Kevin Bowser was a strict vegetarian, a good athlete and a big Eagles fan. He worked in the technology department for Marsh & McLennan and commuted every day from Philadelphia, where his wife and two children live.
Stephanie Bowser went through difficult times after her husband’s death.
“I was a wreck,” she said.
It was her two young children, now 12 and 15, who forced her out of a deep depression.
“They made me get out of bed – because they were hungry. I had to provide and do for them,” she explained.
She said therapy didn’t improve her mental state.
“I went through therapy for a year,” she said. “You’re supposed to get better, but the 365 days came and went, and I was still crying like it happened yesterday. I knew I had enough – talking about it and reliving that day. So I had to figure it out on my own. My depression, I could see, was affecting my children.”
She also knew her husband would have wanted a good life for the children.
“My husband was about living life, and I found the motivation and strength to live life,” she said. “It would be a dishonor to him not to.”
Stephanie Bowser, who is in a long-term relationship but has not remarried, said she has focused on family since 9/11, giving up her own job.
“I’m a stay-at-home mom. I wanted to focus on raising two good children. To be there for them,” she said. “Because you never know.”
Kevin has a sister, Denise, who lives in Croton-on-Hudson.
Kevin Bowser, 45, was a computer specialist at Marsh & McLennan’s technology division, where he taught brokers how to use sophisticated computer equipment. He was on the 97th floor of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.
The Philadelphia native commuted to work so that he and his wife Stephanie could raise their two children while living close to their families.
Bowser was a graduate of John Bartram High School and of Kutztown State University, where he played football and earned his business degree in 1979.
A star defensive end, Kevin was a diehard Eagles fan and had tried out for the team. He supported the Kingsessing Roadrunners football team at the local recreation center, a program he had participated in during his teen years.At the time of his death, he and his identical twin brother Kelvin had just finished raising money for a Pee Wee football league team in his community.
Bowser was known as the guy in the neighborhood who was always there for others, such as climbing a ladder to clean gutters for older residents.
To raise funds for the scholarship, Bowser’s lifelong friend, David Sylvester, bicycled 4,000 miles across the U.S., beginning in Astoria, Ore., to the family doorstep in Southwest Philadelphia.
“As far back as I can remember, Kevin spoke of good health and of the benefits of exercise and proper eating habits,” Sylvester recalled. “Now I want to show kids, especially underprivileged kids, that it’s OK to ride a bike, be in shape, respect your body and participate in sports besides basketball and football.”
Memorial donations may be made to the Kevin L. Bowser Memorial Fund, Box 53351, Philadelphia 19105.
Rusty Pray’s e-mail address is rpray@phillynews.com.
Verify with Rusty if this information is still good for donations.
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