Half

Obituary for BOWERS


Published in the Albuquerque Journal on Thursday August 16, 2007

Hal Francis Bowers died at home in Tijeras, NM last Thursday, August 2, 2007, after a short struggle with cancer. Mr. Bowers left a lasting impression on friends and co-workers in New Orleans, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Albuquerque, and San Bernardino, CA where he graduated from Pacific High School. A documentary sound recordist and network news audio technician for NBC, CBS and ABC News for over 15 years, Hal covered news events including the Mount St. Helens volcano, the Mexico City Earthquake, several space shuttle landings at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mohave Desert, and the annual Academy Awards. He won an Emmy Award in 1985 for "Invisible Soldiers," a documentary about Vietnam veterans in Los Angeles, hosted by Martin Sheen, and was assistant editor on "Opening Night," a film by John Cassavetes. Bowers combined computer skills with his interest in space and aviation in a second career as a technical animator at Shafer Corp in Albuquerque. Hal was also a horseman, a fabulous cook and musician who played acoustic bass and drums. He read astronomy and military history, and collected firearms, specializing in Russian sniper rifles. A loving father, smart and sensitive friend, computer-buddy to the technically challenged, and an unusual humorist, Hal leaves his daughters, Emma Bowers of Santa Monica, CA and Hope Bowers and husband, Alberto Tonizzo of New York City; his mother, Barbara Nolte of Cherry Valley, CA; and his father, Hal Bowers of Tucson, AZ. Hal and his wife, TV crew partner Amy Bowers (now Marash, of Washington, DC) were divorced in 1997 but remained friends to the end. Mr. Bowers was 60. The family will announce plans for a memorial in Tijeras.