Bob was born on October 13, 1950 in Wiesbaden, Germany to
Polly Ann and Bob Sowden Sr, joining older sister Nanci. His father was in the
Air Force and his mother was from Coldwater, Mississippi. They returned to the
US and his father was stationed at Otis Air Force Base. They lived in Yarmouth,
Mass on the Cape. Bob enjoyed playing hockey on the cranberry bog and watching
the herring run. He went boating with his father.
They moved to Orlando, Florida when Bob was 14. He graduated
from Bishop Moore High School. Bob entered Florida Technological University. He
was drafted into the Army when he had a lapse in enrollment. He served 12
months in Vietnam and completed his service at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs,
Colorado. While on leave from Vietnam, he married Brenda. They lived in
Colorado Springs after his tour of duty.
Bob and Brenda moved to Orlando, Florida after he separated
from the Army. Bob returned to Florida Technological University and resumed his
pursuit of an engineering degree. His daughter Zabette (Zebe) was born in 1973.
That same day he met livelong friends Phil and Brenda Spletter. Bob graduated
in 1976 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He accepted a job at Harris
Corporation. His second daughter Ailena was born in 1977 just days after
starting his new job. Initially Bob commuted back and forth from Orlando to
Melbourne but he wanted to live near the water, so he moved his family to
Melbourne, Florida. He coached his daughters’ softball teams. He enjoyed
watching sports and listening to music with the girls in his chair. They went to
games at Dodgertown. Bob enjoyed running. He often raced Zebe – she only won
once since he wouldn’t just let her win. Bob helped the girls with their
homework, especially tutoring them in math. They enjoyed annual family vacations.
Bob worked at Harris for over 30 years as a Systems
Engineer. He was a key contributor to the development and production of unique
and exquisite high reliability structures vital to our national interest. He
had the privilege of working with his daughter Ailena for 5 years.
Bob continued to pursue boating as an adult. He crewed for
his father racing sailboats in the intercostal waterway and offshore. Bob’s
first sailboat was a Catalina 22 named Trump. Her rating was his trump card. He
joined Melbourne Yacht Club. He taught his daughters how to sail. When there
was enough wind, they knee skied behind Trump. His daughters wished for a power
boat but Bob was a sailor. He raced Trump locally. He liked to tell the story
of one of his first races at MYC when he was so far behind that the Dick
Tillman, race committee, told him to take his own time. Bob’s skills improved
and the boat lived up to her name including winning the Brevard Challenge in 1990.
When his crew got too big for the Catalina, Bob purchased a
Wavelength 24 named Volant which he also raced in the ICW as well as offshore
and around the state. Bob and crew Karen Knockel formed a bond that turned into
love and later marriage. After Volant
came a Melges 24 they named Caliente. Bob, Caliente and crew continued to race
locally, competing around Florida and as far as Charleston, South Carolina. Bob
participated in all aspect of sailboat racing serving as MYC Fleet Captain, regatta
chairman, protest chairman, and race committee. He was an officer of the
Florida Sailing Association.
Bob received his first cruising sailboat as a gift from his
father. Impulsive was a great training ground for Bob and Karen and they soon
adopted the Hunter 30 named La Vie Dansante from their dear friend Donna. Their
first trip to the Abacos was with Gerry and Rachele Ross on Sleighride leading
the way. After many years, some crazy times and loads of fun, it was time to
move on to a larger boat. Bob’s best friend Gerry Moores adopted La Vie and Bob
purchased Miss Too, a Hunter 37. The cruising fun around Florida and the
Bahamas continued. Bob and a rotating crew sailed Miss Too up to Chesapeake Bay
in 2004 while he and Karen were working in DC for Harris. The trip included
participating in the Gulfstreamer Regatta from Daytona to Charleston. They
spent the season sailing the Bay including 4th of July in Annapolis
before Bob and another rotating crew brought Miss Too back to MYC. The return
trip turned Bob’s eye to trawlers as he saw their captains in their jammies
drinking coffee in the pilot house while he had on everything but Karen’s
drawers in Miss Too’s freezing cockpit.
Bob and Karen purchased a Heritage East 36 for Karen’s 50th
birthday naming her Banyan. Banyan made several trips to the Abacos, the west
coast of Florida and one trip up the St. Johns River in addition to many nights
at anchor in the ICW. Bob retired from racing and become the go to race
committee (RC) for MYC and East Coast Sailing Association races. Banyan, with
Bob at the helm, served as RC platform for Bob, Gerry, Pat Lambert and many
other RC chairman. Bob enjoyed sitting with friends on Banyan; watching for manatee, drinking Jameson, telling
stories,… There were many Friday happy hours up at the MYC clubhouse followed
by a relaxing evening and restful sleep on Banyan.
Bob loved his family tremendously. His daughters gave him 6
wonderful grandchildren; Logan, Kaitlyn, Garrett, Tristan, Alison and Braeden.
He loved and insisted on family traditions. The 4th of July was his
big holiday with them. The day started with fishing off the docks at MYC to see
who got the Most, Biggest, Best fish. In November, the family met at Manny’s Chophouse
in Lake Wales. In December it was San Remo in Melbourne. The girls and
grandkids would visit Bob and Karen at their condo in Vero Beach. Bob made sure
they had fresh shrimp for bait to fish off the docks to continue the fishing
contests.
Bob enjoyed golf – both playing and watching the pros, especially
Tiger Woods. He had standing tee times with his golf buddies on Tuesdays and
Fridays: Gerry Moores, Rick and Bob Crockett, Gary Hanbaum, Lenny Beckett, Pat
Lambert, Tom Bradley, Ronnie Tobias, Nick
Schmitz, Henry and Dave. The gang would
meet at Icabod’s Dockside after golf on Tuesdays where Karen would join them – many
good times there.
Bob got a red Corvette for his 60th birthday. He
drove the car most everywhere after saying he didn’t want to put too many miles
on her. Bob, Karen and their dog Lucy drove US Route 6 in the Corvette. The
story of their trip is documented at Lucy’s blog (
http://lucytripping.blogspot.com/2016/04/hello.html). They were planning a similar
trip on US Route 2 when life got in the way.
Bob went into the hospital in June with serious liver disease.
He returned home and against all expectations fought back and regained much of
his health. He was optimistic and cheerful. He was working hard to regain his
mobility when he suddenly succumbed to sepsis.
He left an impression on all who knew him. For those that
loved him, he took at piece of our hearts. That spot feels empty now but with
time will be filled with warm loving memories of an adoring father and
grandfather, loving husband and brother, and faithful friend.