Edgar Bowerfind

Dr. Edgar S. Bowerfind, Jr. known as Pete, died suddenly blessedly of a heart attack Thursday, February 24, 2011 at his home at Judson Park in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He was 86. Dr. Bowerfind was the son of Edgar S. Bowerfind, a pioneer in the field of public relations with Republic Steel, and Edna Strong Bowerfind a soloist at the Temple at University Circle. He was born in Cleveland Heights in 1924. In 1935 the family moved to Hudson, Ohio where he attended and graduated from the Western Reserve Academy, '42. Dr. Bowerfind never obtained a college diploma. He entered the US Air Force and qualified for and completed medical school '48. As a physician in the Air Force he operated an Air Force clinic in Okinawa for which service he was awarded a Bronze Star. On R&R during that tour of duty he enjoyed the opportunity to have tea with Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, first lady of the Republic of China, in Taipei, Taiwan. After military service Dr. Bowerfind returned to Cleveland where he comleted a residency in hematology at Case Western Reserve Medical School. After which he began a 40 year career at University Hospitals. Dr. Bowerfind taught patient-physician relations and ethics to a generation of medical students. For many years he served as the director of the UH employee health clinic, medical director of the Hospice of the Western Reserve, and medical director of Highland View Hospital's alcohol rehabilitation center. From 1986 to 1999 he served on the Board of the Sihler Foundation. In addition Dr. Bowerfind maintained a private practice as a primary care physician for adolescents and adults. In 1956 Dr. Bowerfind wed Maria Washington Tucker of Cleveland Heights, the youngest daughter of the Right Reverend Beverley D. Tucker, retired bishop of the Episcopal Church Diocese of Ohio and Eleanor Lile Tucker. Maria Bowerfind died in 2006. Dr. and Mrs. Bowerfind were communicants in good standing at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights where Dr. Bowerfind served as a vestry man in the 1990's and continued to worship regularly up to the time of his death. Dr. and Mrs. Bowerfind loved to travel and entertain friends and family in their home on Demington Drive, Cleveland Heights. Dr. Bowerfind deeply admired Leonardo DaVinci, fine art from every epoch, literature, music, and biography. He was well known for his extensive library and fluent conversational ability on a wide range of interesting topics. He was an avid gardener and together with his wife, a long time supporter of the Cleveland Garden Center, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and the Cleveland Playhouse. At his death, Dr. Bowerfind was very nearly a 30 year faithful adherent of AA. Dr. Bowerfind is survived by two sisters-in-law Maude Drane of Cleveland Heights and Lile Bell of Richmond, VA, a brother-in-law Beverley Tucker amarried to Julia of Virginia Beach, VA; cousins Herb Sihler married to Carolyn of Chagrin Falls and John Sihler married to Dene of Eugene, OR, four children and nine grandchildren: Edgar Sihler Bowerfind III of Cleveland Heights; Ellis Tucker Bowerfind married to Delea Free, of Alexandria, VA and their children Tiffany married to Matt Calise of Washington, D.C., George, Dorothy, and Elizabeth; Dr. Jane Strong Bowerfind married to professor Mark Brewin of Tulsa, OK and their children Zoë and Harper; Dr. William Minor Lile Bowerfind married to Robin Bruckmann, of Portland, OR and their children Savannah, Alexa, and Tucker. Loving nieces and nephews include Eleanor and Harry Christensen of Stamford, CT; Walter Harding and Margriet Drane of Wilmington, DE; Beverley and Dennis Coughlin of Cleveland Heights; Eleanor and William Washburn of Richmond, VA; Ginger and Wilson Trice of Richmond, VA; Tommy and Claire Bell of Staunton, VA; Anne and Rob Turnbull of Richmond, VA; Julia and David Ackerman of Norfolk, VA; Eleanor and Steve; Maria and John of Chantilly, VA. Services will be held 1 pm, Saturday, March 5, 2011 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in honor of Dr. Bowerfind to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2747 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Hts., OH; Case Western Reserve University Medical School, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106 , Western Reserve Academy, 115 College St., Hudson, OH, 44236 or the Hospice of the Western Reserve, 300 . 185th St., Cleveland, OH 44119. All friends are invited to raise a glass of tonic water, fresh squeezed OJ, or overcooked coffee to a beloved friend, mentor, doctor, confidant, and sometime curmudgeon, true to himself to the end.


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