Arrangements made by
John M. Taylor Funeral Home
147 Duke Of Gloucester St
Annapolis,
MD
21401
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www.johnmtaylorfuneralhome.com
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Tel. (410) 263-4422
Fax. (410) 263-6148
johnmtaylorfuneralhome@stei.com
Memories & Candles
Previous
“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...
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1 of 44 | Posted by: Jane and Jim Pehlke 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...
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2 of 44 | 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...
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3 of 44 | 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...
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4 of 44 | 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...
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5 of 44 | 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...
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6 of 44 | Posted by: Michelle Diaz Miami, FL
“Our deepest sympathies on the loss of a true gentleman.
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7 of 44 | Posted by: Jeanne and Charles Bolton MD
“My prayers go out to the Bowen family/
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8 of 44 | Posted by: Elbert Fortson
“Our deepest condolences.
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9 of 44 | 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...
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10 of 44 | 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...
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11 of 44 | 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...
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12 of 44 | 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...
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13 of 44 | 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...
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14 of 44 | 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...
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15 of 44 | 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...
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16 of 44 | 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...
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17 of 44 | 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...
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18 of 44 | 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...
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19 of 44 | 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...
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20 of 44 | 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...
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21 of 44 | 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...
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22 of 44 | 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...
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23 of 44 | 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...
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24 of 44 | 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...
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25 of 44 | 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...
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26 of 44 | 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...
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27 of 44 | 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...
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28 of 44 | 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...
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29 of 44 | 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...
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30 of 44 | 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...
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31 of 44 | Posted by: Sidney Russell 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...
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32 of 44 | 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...
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33 of 44 | 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....
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34 of 44 | Posted by: Oscar Vazquez
“To the good times so many of us shared with Bob. May you rest in peace, Bob.
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35 of 44 | 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...
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36 of 44 | 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...
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37 of 44 | 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...
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38 of 44 | 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....
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39 of 44 | 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...
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40 of 44 | 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...
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41 of 44 | 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...
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42 of 44 | 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...
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43 of 44 | 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.
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44 of 44 | 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.

