Todd
Alan Bowman, 49, Overland Park KS, passed away Friday December 6, 2013
at 8:23 am of complications brought on by the consequences of suffering
from frontotemporal dementia. He was surrounded by his loving and
devoted family.
Todd
was born September 7, 1964 in Shawnee Mission, KS to M. Bruce Bowman
and Mona Dee Peters Bowman. He was the youngest of their three children
and brother to Marla Ainsworth and Bob Bowman.
He
was a tall, dark haired handsome man. Six foot four in stature, with an
athletic build, beautiful brown eyes and big wide wonderful smile, you
knew when Todd had entered the room! He was fun loving, very intelligent
and ever thoughtful of his family, friends and employees.
Todd
attended Turner High School his sophomore year and then graduated from
Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in 1983. He excelled at football,
basketball and baseball as well as academics. He attended Washington
University in St Louis where he played football for the Bears at both
tight end and quarterback positions. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta
Fraternity. His junior year, he chaired the Thurtene Club Carnival.
After
graduation in 1987, Todd’s career path began with Proctor & Gamble,
next as a floor trader with The Chicago Mercantile and then finally
back to Kansas City in 1996, where he found his perfect fit at the Ritz
Carlton Hotel. It was at the Ritz that he met his future fiancé, Shannon
K. Garvey. Todd aided in the efforts for the Malcolm Baldrige award
that was presented to the hotel in 1999. He was quickly promoted, and in
2000, he and Shannon left for Montego Bay, Jamaica to help open the new
Rose Hall Ritz Carlton. In his position as Director of Quality and
Productivity, the grand hotel was erected and Todd hired and trained the
“quality ladies and gentlemen” of the beautiful island to welcome
travelers to the new Ritz Carlton.
Evidence
of its success, Rose Hall Ritz Carlton was granted AAA 5 Diamond status
in its first year of operation. Todd’s position expanded to Director of
Quality and Productivity of the Caribbean. The family enjoyed many
wonderful holidays in Jamaica where Todd was the perfect host. He had
the “heart” of the Jamaican people and Todd and Shannon shared with us
the many wonderful experiences of the culture. In 2006, they moved to
the St Thomas Ritz Carlton. It was at that time Todd and Shannon were
engaged. Again we were treated to Todd’s wonderful hospitality on the
Island.
Todd
was well traveled, played golf and even made a hole-in-one after his
diagnosis. Horse racing was a passionate interest of his and he also
enjoyed water skiing, hiking and was a member of the Sons of the
American Revolution.
Todd
came home to Kansas City for a visit in May of 2008 and never returned
to the Islands. Eventually he was admitted to a long term care facility,
Garden Terrace Life Care Center. He resided there for two days short of
four years. The Bowman family is forever thankful and grateful to the
ladies and gentlemen of Garden Terrace for Todd’s tender care and the
wonderful support we received. Todd was deeply loved and will be dearly
missed. It was an absolute pleasure to have him in our lives.
