Jeffrey Mann Bowen passed away peacefully Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.

Jeff was born April 29, 1951, in Wilmington, Delaware, to Virginia Veness and Griffith Bowen.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Mary Beth James of Ithaca, NY; and his children, John and Kate Bowen of Carlsbad, Calif., Katherine James Bowen of Pittsburgh, Becky and Zach Sims of Enfield, NY, and Hannah Bowen of Lake Placid, Fla. Jeff has a sister, Betsy Bowen; and three grandchildren, Wesley, Malcolm and Henrietta.

He received a bachelor's degree at Williams College and a PhD at the University of North Carolina.

Among Jeff's finest accomplishments was his long and committed career as a teacher, mentor, and professor. For 35 years Jeff served on the faculty of Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa., as a physics professor. His students described Jeff as enthusiastic and energetic with a passion for the complexities of physics and mathematics. His early career theoretical work on black-hole collisions contributed to the groundbreaking LIGO discovery of gravitational waves in 2015.

Jeff was a parishioner of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Lewisburg. He taught bridge classes and in 2000 helped rejuvenate the Lewisburg Bridge-a-thon. After moving to Ithaca, NY in 2020, he served on the Vestry of St. John's Episcopal Church, organized community game nights, and volunteered for Loaves and Fishes meal program and Laundry Love support program.

He was a lifelong lover of board games, sports, classical music, theatre, travel, and outdoor recreation. He loved spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren and his infectious zest for life will remain in their hearts.

A Celebration of Life with music and storytelling will be held in the parish hall, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Lewisburg at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11.

Those wishing to make a gift in memory of Jeff may contribute to American Field Service at afsusa.org/donate, or to Loaves and Fishes of Tompkins County at https://loaves.charityproud.org