Elizabeth Schoch Bowden

(April 16, 1924 – May 21, 2023)

Born in Philadelphia, formerly of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Schoch Bowden passed away peacefully at her home in Palm Beach, Florida on May 21, 2023.  She will be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother, a philanthropist, and a patron of the arts.

Mrs. Bowden was recognized for her many philanthropic endeavors in Philadelphia and Palm Beach.  She was a generous supporter of the arts, among them the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach Opera, Palm Beach Symphony, Catholic Charities, and Food for the Poor.  She was a Founding Member of the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and the Kravis Center in Palm Beach.  She also supported a number of educational institutions, including Chestnut Hill College, Rosemont College, The Haverford School, Gladwyne Montessori, and The Shipley School.

Mrs. Bowden founded the Philadelphia Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums.  During her tenure as chairman, she traveled to the Vatican to meet Pope John Paul II and visit the fresco that the Chapter restored.  She chaired many gala fundraisers and served on a number of charitable boards, including The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Curtis Institute of Music, Academy of Vocal Arts, Philadelphia Opera Company, Rittenhouse Square Committee for the Philadelphia Orchestra, and The Schoch Foundation.  In 1995, Mrs. Bowden was awarded Philanthropist of the Year by the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives.

She was predeceased by her husbands' Henry Lawrence Reese, M. Yetter Schoch, and Charles W. Bowden Jr, and she is survived by her daughter, Suzanne Schoch Rehl, son-in-law Scott Rehl, three granddaughters, Avery Elizabeth, Alexandra Reese, and Sutton Kathryn, and a niece Pat Meyer.

A private service will be held for close family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

The Mann Center for the Performing Arts

123 S. Broad St

Suite 815

Philadelphia, PA 19109