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Born: December 21, 1921 - Norwich, New York, USA
Died: July 18, 2024 - Orlando, Florida, USA |
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The American contralto, Mildred (Midge) Bowman, was born in 1921 in Norwich, New York to Harold and Fanny Oakley on a dark and stormy winter solstice night. It was a fitting start to a woman who’s been a force of nature for over 102 years. Determined to bring music and song to the world, her musical career began early. She sang in choir and was the accompanist for her high school assemblies. As trombonist in the New Berlin High School band, she performed at the opening of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939. When the steamy weather caused her trombone slide to shoot out on the street, Midge picked it up and kept marching. That turned out to be trademark Midge: Don’t miss a beat, the show must go on and never, ever miss a party!
After receiving multiple degrees in music from Oberlin Conservatory, Mildred Bowman began her teaching career at Windsor (New York) Central School. On her first day, she met the local milkman, Douglas Bowman. He invited her to ride along the milk route on Saturdays and their love blossomed. They married in 1946 and built a beautiful life for their family in the small town of Windsor, New York. In addition to raising three children, teaching full time and helping out at Bowman’s Dairy Bar, Midge still had time to play organ at Zion Episcopal Church, direct choirs, sing with the Binghamton Choral Society and volunteer with various civic groups. She was the first woman to conduct the Windsor Town Band, a summer tradition on the Village Green for over 100 years.
Mildred and Douglas Bowman retired to Orlando in 1989 but Doug passed shortly after. That began a new chapter in Midge’s life. She trained as a race walker and competed in the Senior Games. She was the girl singer with the Orlando Swing Band. A woman of deep faith, Midge participated in conventions and missions around the world, from annual visits to the Episcopal Kanuga Conference Center to working with children at an orphanage in Honduras. Her love of music took her to festivals and cruises around the country, but Orlando was where she built her home. When asked about the key to her longevity, Midge would say “music keeps me young; jazz keeps my heart beating strong.” You’d find Midge at music concert halls, clubs and bars throughout the region, often staying after the performance to get to know the musicians. And as much as Midge loved the musicians, they loved her.
For her life-long interest and support, Mildred Bowman was inducted into the Central Florida Jazz Society Hall of Fame in 2023 at age 101. And more recently, her community at Orlando Lutheran Towers hosted a Jazz night in her honor on June 7, 2024, what Orange County Mayor Demings proclaimed “Midge Bowman Day”. The OLT residents and staff became beloved friends, where Midge conducted weekly sing-alongs – “Sip and Sings” for residents – complete with Mimosas and frequent guest artists from the Orlando music community.
Mildred Bowman was a shining example of living a long, active, engaged and joyful life. During the pandemic, she wrote her life story and published it on her 100th birthday. A true renaissance woman, her interests ranged from politics to Animal Planet and her friends were of varied ages, backgrounds and beliefs. Every person she met became a friend and probably received a birthday card the next year. She passed away on July 18, 2024, at the age of 102. |
