Thomas H. Bowman

1905 - 2006

Thomas H. "Tommy" Bowman, loving husband of Marguerite and father of sons John and Bill, passed away on May 5, 2006 while undergoing a simple procedure at Torrance Memorial Hospital. Tommy was born on June 4, 1905 in San Diego, California and was within one month of his 101st birthday. He spent his early years in Pasadena, California and had been a resident of Redondo Beach for over 80 years.

Tommy was a big fan of USC football and particularly enjoyed the USC/Notre Dame games as well as the Rose Bowl game when USC was playing. He had been going to the Rose Bowl since chariot races were held there. He attended the USC School of Pharmacy and was a member of QSAD Centurions, the pharmacy support group.

Tommy was a long time active member of the Redondo Beach Rotary Club. On August 6, 2002 he was honored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for having over 50 years of perfect attendance at the Rotary Club. He was also a regional advisory director of the bank of America, Harbor General Hospital and the Salvation Army and was a member of the Redondo Beach Roundtable. Tommy's real passion in life was also his vocation - that of being a pharmacist and owning the D&D Drug Store in Redondo Beach. He started in the pharmacy business at age 5 as a delivery boy ( with his wagon) in Pasadena. He loved to converse with all his old, longtime customers. Tommy was never one to be "short on words". When he retired at age 97 he was said to be the third oldest practicing pharmacist in California and the 5th oldest in the U.S.

Tommy also loved to travel, having visited many major US cities, Europe, the Far East, Micronesia, the Caribbean and Hawaii. He also enjoyed going to the Hollywood Bowl for many years and enjoyed having a glass of wine, which he partially attributed to his long life.

Tommy attended the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, and 52 years later the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, probably one of the few people in Southern California to attend both games in L.A.

Tommy is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marguerite, and his two sons, John of Westchester and Bill of Redondo Beach. Fight On! Visitation will be from 4 pm until 8 pm Tuesday , May 23, 2006 at the Rice Mortuary in Torrance. Funeral Services will be 2pm Wednesday at the Mortuary with a gathering of family and friends following at the Lighthouse Reception Room at the Mortuary.