One of the quiet pillars of the community passed away suddenly at his home in Nobleboro Monday night, due to natural causes.
Possibly best known professionally through his lifelong association with Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta, John Bowers, 54, was known by friends and colleagues as meticulously organized and a typically invaluable contributor to any effort he was involved in. His unexpected passing has left friends and colleagues reeling.
A 36-year, lifelong employee of Miles, and ultimately Lincoln County Healthcare, Bowers was serving as the latter organization’s vice president of operations at the time of his passing.
Throughout the years, Bowers served in several roles for the local hospital, including materials manager, director of facilities, and vice president of operations. From the 1980s on, he planned and spearheaded every renovation and construction project on the Miles Campus.
“John easily did the work of two full-time managers,” said Lincoln County Healthcare CEO Jim Donovan. “He was an extraordinary individual who deeply cared for this organization and its employees. He was also one of the most competent and trustworthy individuals I’ve ever known.
“Through his hard work, uncanny reliability, and gentle nature, John became a cornerstone of this organization and beloved friend to so many of us. There is no one who was more dedicated to his work and his community. Our prayers and thoughts go out to his wife, Lisa, and the entire family during this difficult time,” Donovan said.
A Damariscotta native and a member of the Lincoln Academy’s Class of 1975, Bowers served on the school’s board of trustees.
On May 17, he was elected to serve as president of the board and was slated to step into that role at the end of June, replacing outgoing president Laurie Bouchard.
In a prepared statement, Bouchard called Bowers one of the most dedicated trustees the 200-year-old Newcastle educational institution has ever had.
“Even though his job was exceedingly demanding, he always found time to squeeze board and committee meetings into his tight schedule, frequently extending his day at both ends,” Bouchard said. “With his cool, calm demeanor, he was often the voice of reason when tough decisions needed to be made… He will be solely and sadly missed.”
Lincoln Academy Head of School Jay Pinkerton said Bowers’ passing leaves a giant hole on the board. Bowers’ expertise in facilities management, project planning and his outstanding organizational skills were a tremendous benefit to the school, Pinkerton said.
At one time or another Bowers was a member of almost all of the trustees’ subcommittees, Pinkerton said.
“He had a lot of experience. He was very intelligent, but he was also very thoughtful and those combined, regardless of whatever issue was on the table, those attributes served us very well here,” Pinkerton said.
“Whatever he was involved in, he always gave 100 percent. He came on the board in the fall of 2003 and hit the ground running. Facilities, building projects, anything – he was right there. We all learned an awful lot from John. He taught me an awful lot and I know I am not the only one,” Pinkerton said.
Colby & Gale president and owner Robert Clifford was a Lincoln Academy classmate and a lifelong friend. Clifford recalled starting his working career mowing lawns at Miles Memorial Hospital with Bowers when both were teenagers.
“Personally and professionally I have known him all my life,” Clifford said. “My wife and I, this year is our 30th anniversary and he was part of my wedding party… He was a great friend.”
Later in life both men served together on the LA’s Board of Trustees. Clifford called some of the committee work he did with Bowers one of the most pleasurable aspects of his time on the board.
Last week, knowing Clifford would be receiving the Alumnus of the Year Award at the Lincoln Academy Alumni Banquet June 4, and knowing he was going to regretfully miss the banquet, Bowers called his old friend and invited him out for beer, Clifford said. The two men enjoyed what Clifford recalled as great conversation. It would be the last time they saw each other.
“I’ll tell you something,” Clifford said. “I have been to many funerals and people get up to talk about how great someone is and this and that; this one of those when everything is true.”
Strong Hancock Funeral Home in Damariscotta is handling funeral arrangements. Visitation hours are Fri., June 10, from 4-6 p.m. at the funeral home at 612 Main St. Funeral services will be held at St. Patrick’s Church in Newcastle, Sat., June 11 at 10 a.m. Condolences and messages to the family may be left at www.stronghancock.com.
In lieu of flowers donations in Bowers’ memory may be made to the Development Offices of Lincoln County Healthcare, 35 Miles St., Damariscotta, 04543; and/or Lincoln Academy, 81 Academy Hill Rd., Newcastle, 04553.
A complete obituary will appear in next week’s edition of The Lincoln County News.
