Mr. Alexander Raphael Bowen Sr.

On Saturday March 30, 2019 Alexander Raphael Bowen Sr., loving husband, son and father of four children, passed away at the age of 50. Alex was born on January 15, 1969 in the Bronx NY to Kermitt W. Bowen Jr. and Sarah Mae Cummings Bowen Hudson. Alex was the youngest of three siblings, Kermitt W. Bowen III and Tasha L. Bowen Newsome. Most of his childhood, he was raised by his mother. Sarah remarried to Albert N. Hudson who was called “Pop” to the family and who Alex considered his father. He became a lot closer to Pop in his adult years, up until Albert’s passing on September 28, 2007. Alex grew up in Valley Stream NY and spent his entire education in the Elmont School District. Upon completing high school, he worked various jobs until he married the first time at the age of 20 and had three kids, Catrina Alexandra, Beverly Alexa and Alexander Raphael Jr. before the age of 25. Alex started working with the New York City Transit Authority in 1993. The first 9 years of his career he was a train conductor and the latter 16 years as a train operator until his retirement in 2018 with 23.5 years on the job. During his tenure, Alex also volunteered as a steward for the TWU Local 100 union. He always had a passion and knack for vehicles. In addition to operating passenger and work trains for the MTA, he was an avid motorcycle rider and eventually became a Rider Coach for MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation). Besides having a motorcycle license, he had a commercial driver license with almost every possible endorsement including Hazardous Materials, Tow Truck, Double / Triple Tracker Trailers. On the side, he would also occasionally drive his friend’s limousine, once even having Grace Jones as a passenger. In the summer of 1999, he met Candice, his soul-mate, best friend and love of his life. They shared and experienced so much of life together as a couple having been together for almost 20 years. His beloved Aunt Julia Peretta Cummings Lewis, once said that they made a “great team” which meant a lot to him. Alex and Candice married on June 11, 2011 and were blessed with a son, Elijah Hudson Bowen on May 28, 2012. Alex enjoyed and lived life to the fullest. His passions included spending time with this family, exploring the city, state and country in which we live in by taking many road trips by motorcycle, vehicles and recreational vehicle. One of his dreams was to travel cross country in an RV with his family. Summer of 2018 he had the opportunity to do just that on the East Coast from Maine, to the NY Finger Lakes all the way to Atlanta, GA. He loved the great outdoors and being in nature, which led him and Candice to purchase a home in Beacon NY along the Hudson River in 2009. Living in the suburbs, he took advantage of the outdoors — hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, swimming, boating, camping etc. Some of his other hobbies included enjoying good food, listening to music, dancing, playing chess, watching sports, especially football and rooting for his favorite team the Baltimore Ravens. Shortly after purchasing a home in Beacon, his son Alex Jr. and Catrina moved in with Candice and him. As an opportunity to bond, get familiar and involved with the community, he and Alex Jr. joined the Beacon Fire Department. After completing fire fighter training and serving as a volunteer fire fighter, he became secretary of the Beacon Fire Department. He was always eager to learn more, do more and become more. He was a genuine man of character and demonstrated the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Although he grew up in the church and was saved earlier in life, he was not baptized until finding a home church at Grace Community Church in Orange County, NY. Shortly after he was baptized, he became ill and eventually found out that he had a tumor in his cervical spine, a type of brain cancer astrocytoma. The family decided to move back to NYC in 2017 to be closer to family, doctors and the hospital. The last 3 years were a challenge for Alex and the family, but he put all his faith and trust in the Lord until the very end. Alex is survived by his wife Candice, four children Catrina, Beverly, Alex Jr., and Elijah, his mother Sarah and siblings Kermitt and Tasha and a host of family and friends. No one should face cancer alone. Gilda's Club NYC has been a tremendous support for the Bowen Family. As an appreciation, for those who would like to donate, please visit https://gildasclubnyc.org/donate-now/

Mr. Alexander Raphael Bowen Sr.

January 15, 1969 - March 30, 2019