Boston Globe 8/6/15: Charles Bowers, at 86; Red Sox scout, Wayland High coach.

The following obituary for Charles “Buzz” Bowers was posted on Facebook:

EAST ORLEANS: Charles Phillip “Buzz” Bowers, 86, died peacefully at his beloved Cape home surrounded by his loving family on Friday, July 31, 2015.

He was born in Waltham on April 21, 1929 the son of the late George F. and Dorothy (Harrington) Bowers.

Buzz is survived by and will be deeply missed by the love of his life for 64 years, his high school sweetheart Virginia “Ginny” (Colpitts) Bowers and his children, Deborah (Bowers) and her husband Stephen Schaffer of Lakeland, FL; Nancy B. Morgan of Londonderry, NH; Lee Ann B. Desai of Westborough and Linda S. Bowers of Belmont. Loyal brother to James R. Bowers and his wife Nancy of Rogersville, TN, George F. Bowers, III and his wife M. Gail of The Villages, FL and the late Robert F. Bowers. Brother-in-law of Roberta P. Colpitts and her late husband David B. Colpitts of Woods Hole. Also survived by eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, nineteen nieces and nephews and Molly, his beloved adopted English Springer spaniel rescue dog of twelve years.

Buzz and Ginny moved to East Orleans 17 years ago. Buzz was a native son of Wayland and graduated from Wayland High School Class of 1947 where he excelled as a 3 – season varsity athlete. He received a baseball scholarship and his BS in Physical Education from Michigan State University. During his sophomore year, he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as a right – handed pitcher. He missed two seasons playing to serve his country with the United States Army during the Korean Conflict.

For over 31 years, he was a physical education teacher, director of physical education and the director of athletics in the Wayland Public Schools. He was an accomplished coach for the Wayland High School basketball, baseball and ski teams.

He was a strong advocate for parity in women’s sports and developed innovative programs to expose students to lifelong fitness activities – from fencing to fly fishing. His greatest satisfaction was seeing his students or athletes improve and gain confidence.

Buzz worked in professional baseball for over 65 years, first as a player then as a part-time scout for the Philadelphia Phillies organization. In 1962, he started a 30 year tenure as a part – time scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1992, he joined the Red Sox, his hometown team as a full-time scout. A few of his better known signings were Lou Merloni, Brian Rose, Carl Pavano and Greg Montalbano.

Buzz received many honors over the years including MLB Scout of the Year – East Coast in 2012, in 2013 to the Cooperstown Diamond Mines Inaugural Scouts Hall of Fame, in 2008 he was inducted into the Inaugural Class of Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame, in 2007 the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association, the Andy Baylock Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contribution to college baseball. In 2006, Buzz was inducted in to the Inaugural Class of the Wayland High School Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2003, he was honored with the A.B. Turk Karam Memorial Award at the New York Professional Baseball Hot Stove League as the Scout of the Year and in 1994 was awarded the George Digby Scout of the Year Award from the Boston Red Sox.

Yet, his greatest reward was his marriage to Ginny and his family as well as seeing the success of his students, friends and athletes. He will be known for his integrity, generosity and dry sense of humor.

His Visitations will be held on Friday, August 7, 2015 from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Road (Off Rte 30), Wayland.

Private family interment will be held in the Bowers family lot in North Cemetery in Wayland.
A Memorial Service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 11:00 o’clock at the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 53 Cochituate Road (Rte 27) Wayland.

In lieu of flowers his family kindly suggests that memorial gifts in his memory be sent to the New England English Springer Spaniel Rescue, Inc., POB 407, Ashland, MA 01721 or to the Michael J Fox Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, PO BOX 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777 and would be greatly appreciated.

posted on August 1 by Lee Bowers Desai

This post originally posted on August 1, updated August 6