BOWMAN JAY A

CW2 Jay A. Bowman was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 09/03/2023 at the age of 72.9
Sarasota, FL
Flight Class 70-1
Date of Birth 10/04/1950
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 155 AHC in 70, 116 AHC in 71
Call signs in Vietnam STAGECOACH 62, HORNET 28
This information was provided by Find A Grave

More detail on this person: Jay A. Bowman, 72, of Sarasota, FL, Westfield and Ludlow, MA passed away on September 3, 2023. Jay was born on Oct. 4, 1950 to Bradley and June (Niemiec) Bowman in Holyoke, MA and grew up in Ludlow. After graduating from Ludlow High School in 1968, he joined the Army and went to flight school to become a helicopter pilot. He went to Viet Nam and flew Hueys from 70-71, while in country he became a Chief Warrant Officer and received many medals and commendations including the National Defense Service Medal, 2 Bronze Stars, the Air Medal (aerial equivalent of a Bronze Star), and the Distinguished Flying Cross (one of the top 10 military honors). After returning home Jay remained in the National Guard for several years flying his beloved helicopters and in early 1975 he joined the Massachusetts State Police. He was on the force for 21 years until he was injured on the job. His initial "home barracks" was in Russell, MA but after a few years he moved to Hampshire County District Attorney's Office where he was a detective and the State Fire Marshall. He also became an expert in Occult and Ritualistic Crime and in 1994 he received the Trooper of the Year award for solving a cold case murder. After leaving the State Police he pursued his passion of golf, became a much-loved coach for both boys and girls middle school soccer and rediscovered his acting chops with both the Players Theater of Sarasota and the Manatee Players of Bradenton. He was especially proud of being cast as Norman in "On Golden Pond" and as the main character Jim Kyle in a Viet Nam survivors story "The Remnant". He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Betsy, his daughters Cathryn Bowman, Megan DiSpirito, her husband Frank and Tracy Bauduccio and her husband Sam, his mother June Bowman, sister Wendy Bowman, her partner Tim Walker, and brother Doug Bowman and his wife Ellen, as well as 5 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, and his much-loved dachsunds, Pete and Shirley. Jay was predeceased by his sisters Linda and Corrine and the original doxie, Bogie. Visiting hours will be held at Nicholson & Carmon Funeral Home, 443 East St. N, (Rte. 159) Suffield, CT 06078 on Thursday, September 21 from 4-7 PM. Family and friends may gather at the funeral home on Friday, September 22 at 1PM; followed by a procession to the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel, Agawam, MA, for Military Honors at 2PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to your local h umane society.

Burial information: Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery

This information was last updated 10/02/2025

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Date posted on this site: 02/07/2026