Former NOJCDS principal Gwynne Bowman is laid to rest

GWYNNE BOWMAN, a lifelong teacher and school administrator, died peacefully last at her home on September 14. Bowman was noted as a two-time head of the New Orleans Jewish Day School, which later became the presently-renamed Jewish Community Day School.

Bowman, who oversaw the day school’s impressive growth prior to Hurricane Katrina had retired from her position when the storm struck the city and flooding damaged its physical plant on the Goldring-Woldenberg campus in Metaire. With students scattered and parents demanding a veteran at the helm, Bowman came out of retirement to face the daunting challenge of rebuilding the school’s five full grades. She retired a second time and was succeeded by Bob Berk, who has since been succeeded by present head of JCDS Sharon Pollin.

Bowman previously served as the longtime principal of Harold Keller public school in Metairie. During her tenure, Keller was consistently ranked as one of the best public elementary schools in the state of Louisiana.  As a gesture of noting her dedication to the day school, Bowman received the prestigious Helen Mervis Jewish Community Professional Award in 2009. She had also been the recipient of the Martin de Tours Award given by her alma mater, St. Martin’s Episcopal School, for exceptional service to the community.

Still not willing to go quietly in the night, Bowman most recently served as the principal of Chartwell Consortium, a non-profit school that educates young autistic children in New Orleans. As a result of her devotion to education, she was awarded the Martin de Tours award from her high school alma mater – St. Martin’s Episcopal School.

She enjoyed an active social life with many friends,  frequently dining out, playing cards, and enjoying theatre at Tulane Summer Lyric.

Bowman is survived by a brother, Sidney C. Bowman, Jr., along with several nephews and a niece.

Family and friends attended a memorial service at Munholand Methodist Church this past Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to  Chartwell Consortium. Charbonnet-Labat-Glapion Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.