Greenfield, MA – On Easter Tuesday, April 7, 2026, a day which started with a coating of fresh snow, Donald Y. Bowman, 90, of Greenfield, MA passed on to Our Lord. He was born in Derby, CT to Llewellyn H. Bowman and Mabel F. (Young) Bowman and was the third of four brothers. They lived in Seymour, CT until he was about 11 years old, at which time they moved to Mechanic Falls, ME. Enjoying a quintessential small-town upbringing, living first at what became known as the “Bowman Farm” and then moving to “The Elms,” Donald (Don) graduated from Mechanic Falls High School.
Shortly after graduating, Donald and two of his high school classmates volunteered for the draft. After completing basic training at Fort Dix in New Jersey, his unit was stationed near the DMZ in Korea. As a cook in the Army, Donald made many great memories of preparing meals for his fellow soldiers, including his famous cream-filled pancakes.
Upon an honorable discharge from the Army, he used the G.I. bill to attend Bryant College (University) in Providence, RI at the advice of his brother Roger. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. While making what would become many life-long friends during his time at Bryant, his most significant connection was meeting fellow student Beatrice (Bea) C. Paine of Warwick, Rhode Island.
Don and Bea were married in Warwick, RI and moved to Greenfield, MA, as his family had eventually relocated to Erving, MA while he was in the service. After working various jobs for a few years, he followed his father into the paper making business and eventually became the comptroller for Millers Falls Paper Co. After working briefly for Strathmore Paper Co., following their purchase of Millers Falls Paper Co., Donald used his previously obtained real estate broker’s license to embark on a second career in real estate.
Throughout the course of his life, Donald’s greatest focus and love was his family. Whether it was attending events for his children, hosting family gatherings with his wife, or just enjoying the many daily blessings that he received; if he was with his family, he was happy. From trips to Pennsylvania to visit extended family and to enjoy the beautiful Amish farmland to trips to Maine at his brother’s camp and Boothbay Harbor, he loved the wonders that each place offered. He always made sure to partake of his favorite foods during each trip like the fried oyster sandwiches, lemon sponge cakes and shoofly pies in Pennsylvania or the steamed clams, lobsters and blueberry pies in Maine, not to mention the occasional Martini March. He also enjoyed several trips to California with family to visit his daughter and son-in-law.
Don had a deep appreciation for fine craftmanship and antiques, including those of the Victorian era, which he collected with his wife as they traveled throughout the Northeast. They savored the quest of searching through antique stores and attending auctions to find the perfect piece to complement the family home. His admiration of historic objects was often tied to his family history in New England and Pennsylvania.
Donald also found great satisfaction in walking, running and biking long before the fitness craze began. He could routinely be seen around the area while out for a walk, run or bike ride. He completed several 10K running races as well as a number of 100-mile bike rides, but his most favorite bike ride was the one that he took to Maine with his daughter.
Donald was predeceased by his parents, as well as his brothers Llewellyn, Jr. and Roger. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 65 years, Beatrice, his daughter Donna Condrey-Miller (Kitt), his son Thomas P. Bowman (Heidi) and his brother Frederic, as well as many nieces and nephews.
While we are saddened by the loss of the light in our life that Donald provided as a husband, father and brother, we reflect on words adapted from those provided by Saint Ambrose in the funeral oration that he wrote for his brother, Saint Satyrus:
De excessu fratris sui Satyri. I must rather rejoice that I had such a husband and father than grieve that I had lost a husband and father, for the former is a gift, the latter a debt to be paid. And so, as long as I might, I enjoyed the loan entrusted to me; now He who deposited the pledge has taken it back.
May our husband, father and brother rest in peace and rise in glory.
A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00am on Thursday April 16, 2026, at Holy Trinity Church located at 135 Main St., Greenfield, MA. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery in Millers Falls, MA.
A calling hour will be held Thursday morning from 8:30am to 9:30am at the Kostanski Funeral Home, 220 Federal St., Greenfield.
For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com
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