Obituary for Lewis Bowlby
WILTON - Lewis E. Bowlby, known professionally as Lew Colby, died on December 27, 2023 at the age of 89.
He was born on November 11, 1934 in Bronx, NY to Charles E. and Mildred (Michael) Bowlby. Lew loved his childhood in the city, and wrote a memoir of that time to share with his children. He attended Regis High School and Fordham University on full academic scholarship, and graduated in 1956 with a degree in Communication Arts.
After stints in Wilkes-Barre, PA at WBRE and in South Bend IN at WNDU, he moved to Maine in 1957 for a job at WMMS in Bath. His early morning show was called "Ham 'n Eggs with Colby" and was a mix of news and music with the comedic banter that he became known for. Maine would be his home for the rest of his life.
In 1960, while emceeing the Miss Maine Pageant, he met his first wife, Sandra J. Taber (Miss Congeniality). They were married for 16 years and had 4 children.
Lew had a long and vibrant career in broadcasting. In 1963 he started at WCSH-TV in Portland. Back then, there were not many stations, and the on-air staff became like friends to their audience. Indeed, Lew's young children used to eat their dinner with the set playing on the kitchen counter so they could "have dinner with Daddy". The public knew Lew as the weatherman on the nightly newscast. It was during this time that he introduced the "somewhat mythical town" of Hannibal's Crossing and regaled viewers with reports of the town and its off beat inhabitants. People tuned in to hear the latest about Grandpa and Grandma Spinney and the other characters in the town. It became so well known that the DeLorme family approached Lew about including Hannibal's Crossing in their Atlas and Gazetteer, the first fictional location to be included.
In 1965, along with Art Hahn, Lew inaugurated the WCSH-TV Sidewalk Art Festival. An annual event, this festival filled downtown Portland with art and artists every August for over 50 years. Lew was instrumental in developing and supporting such award winning, locally produced public service campaigns as Coats for Kids and Color Me Green, an environmental initiative ahead of its time. He was dedicated to offering local programming and giving Mainers a voice. For his service and leadership he received the Broadcaster of the Year award from the Maine Association of Broadcasters. One of his proudest professional accomplishments was leading the station in the recovery from the collapse of the Winn Mountain transmission tower due to heavy icing in the 80s.
During his tenure at WCSH, Lew grew from weatherman to Promotions Manager. He served as Productions Manager, Operations Manager, Program Director, and Station Manager. In 1983, he became General Manager and also served on the Board of Directors. In 1995, he was appointed CEO of the station's parent company, the Maine Broadcasting System. In 1998, MBS was sold to Gannett Broadcasting and two years later Lew became the CEO of CSP Mobile Productions, a post he held until 2010, finally retiring at the spry age of 76.
Lew was a sought after public speaker and he addressed conventions, meetings, and roasts throughout New England. His talks blended personal experiences with Downeast humor. His characters and wit always provided audiences with a memorable, entertaining evening. Long after he left the public eye, Lew's distinctive, deep voice never stopped being recognized by Mainers and summer residents who had heard him for so many years. All he had to do was speak, and someone nearby would call out "Lew Colby!" and come over for a chat and a memory.
On May 4, 1986, Lew married Rosemary Nash. Together they made a rich life filled with holiday events including epic Easter Egg hunts and huge Christmas feasts. They both adored Christmas and remodeled their 'Christmas Farm' in Buxton which they shared with many cats and their 2 dogs, Piper, and then MacKenzie. Lew loved Rosemary deeply. They were married for 36 years and Lew cared for her devotedly at their final home in Wilton until her death in February, 2023.
Along with being an avid reader of mysteries, crime procedurals, and history, Lew had many interests. He played chess and cribbage. He was active in community theater, appearing in shows at both Lyric Theater and Portland Players. He was not a singer, but was very proud to have played the role of "Cap'n Andy" in Showboat. He was fascinated by model trains and narrow gauge railways, volunteering for both the Conway Scenic Railway and the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad. A self-taught woodworker, he made puzzles, toys, and sleds for his grandchildren. He was an accomplished cook and baker, winning blue ribbons at the Fryeburg Fair for his jams, jellies, and pies. He and his first wife, Sandra, briefly ran a seasonal, prix fixe restaurant, The Woodshed, out of their historic farmhouse in Standish.
Lew and Ro traveled widely in Europe, Russia, Alaska, and the Caribbean. Their shared love of history took them to dozens of Civil War battlefields across the country. When in Florida at their winter home, visits to Epcot, Busch Gardens, and SeaWorld were frequent. They shared Scottish heritage and a love for the culture, traveling there many times. Additionally, they served as conveners for the Scottish Family Districts Association for 17 years. Lew proudly wore his kilt of the Lochaber Family District tartan and served as the host of the Maine Highland Games.
Public service and volunteerism were essential to Lew's character. He worked for United Way, the Cerebral Palsy Center of Portland, the Hugh O'Brien Foundation, and the Salvation Army, doing everything from serving on the Boards to setting up the folding chairs in the rain and manning the Christmas Tree sale booth. Professionally, his ability to form personal, enduring relationships had lasting impacts. Colleagues remember him as "an excellent administrator, allowing personnel to rise (or fall) on their own merits while nurturing talent"; "a terrific mentor as well as a good friend"; "he was the best pitchman by far."
Composer and producer, Con Fullham, said of Lew, "The Maine Christmas Song would not have existed without him...when I met Lew I was a songwriter and then I realized there was a lot more to do if you had someone to guide you...he had visions no one else did".
Lew is survived by his children Astrid Bowlby, Todd Colby, Eden Bowlby, and Shannon Edwards, and his stepson Anders Olafson, as well as grandchildren, Benjamin Bowlby, Cory Bowlby, Jesse Colby, Justice Colby, Clara Bowlby, Nichole Olafson, Anders Olafson, Jr., and Jessica Harris. He was predeceased by grandson, Peter Russell. He is also survived by twelve great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Lew requested cremation and to be interred beside Rosemary at the Fairview Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington on Saturday, May 18th at 2 pm. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad, P.O. Box B, Phillips, ME, 04966, www.srrl-rr.org. Please visit Lew’s Book of Memories at www.wilesrc.com to share your sympathies, reflections or words of remembrance. Honored to be caring for the family of Lewis E. Bowlby is Wiles Remembrance Center.
He was born on November 11, 1934 in Bronx, NY to Charles E. and Mildred (Michael) Bowlby. Lew loved his childhood in the city, and wrote a memoir of that time to share with his children. He attended Regis High School and Fordham University on full academic scholarship, and graduated in 1956 with a degree in Communication Arts.
After stints in Wilkes-Barre, PA at WBRE and in South Bend IN at WNDU, he moved to Maine in 1957 for a job at WMMS in Bath. His early morning show was called "Ham 'n Eggs with Colby" and was a mix of news and music with the comedic banter that he became known for. Maine would be his home for the rest of his life.
In 1960, while emceeing the Miss Maine Pageant, he met his first wife, Sandra J. Taber (Miss Congeniality). They were married for 16 years and had 4 children.
Lew had a long and vibrant career in broadcasting. In 1963 he started at WCSH-TV in Portland. Back then, there were not many stations, and the on-air staff became like friends to their audience. Indeed, Lew's young children used to eat their dinner with the set playing on the kitchen counter so they could "have dinner with Daddy". The public knew Lew as the weatherman on the nightly newscast. It was during this time that he introduced the "somewhat mythical town" of Hannibal's Crossing and regaled viewers with reports of the town and its off beat inhabitants. People tuned in to hear the latest about Grandpa and Grandma Spinney and the other characters in the town. It became so well known that the DeLorme family approached Lew about including Hannibal's Crossing in their Atlas and Gazetteer, the first fictional location to be included.
In 1965, along with Art Hahn, Lew inaugurated the WCSH-TV Sidewalk Art Festival. An annual event, this festival filled downtown Portland with art and artists every August for over 50 years. Lew was instrumental in developing and supporting such award winning, locally produced public service campaigns as Coats for Kids and Color Me Green, an environmental initiative ahead of its time. He was dedicated to offering local programming and giving Mainers a voice. For his service and leadership he received the Broadcaster of the Year award from the Maine Association of Broadcasters. One of his proudest professional accomplishments was leading the station in the recovery from the collapse of the Winn Mountain transmission tower due to heavy icing in the 80s.
During his tenure at WCSH, Lew grew from weatherman to Promotions Manager. He served as Productions Manager, Operations Manager, Program Director, and Station Manager. In 1983, he became General Manager and also served on the Board of Directors. In 1995, he was appointed CEO of the station's parent company, the Maine Broadcasting System. In 1998, MBS was sold to Gannett Broadcasting and two years later Lew became the CEO of CSP Mobile Productions, a post he held until 2010, finally retiring at the spry age of 76.
Lew was a sought after public speaker and he addressed conventions, meetings, and roasts throughout New England. His talks blended personal experiences with Downeast humor. His characters and wit always provided audiences with a memorable, entertaining evening. Long after he left the public eye, Lew's distinctive, deep voice never stopped being recognized by Mainers and summer residents who had heard him for so many years. All he had to do was speak, and someone nearby would call out "Lew Colby!" and come over for a chat and a memory.
On May 4, 1986, Lew married Rosemary Nash. Together they made a rich life filled with holiday events including epic Easter Egg hunts and huge Christmas feasts. They both adored Christmas and remodeled their 'Christmas Farm' in Buxton which they shared with many cats and their 2 dogs, Piper, and then MacKenzie. Lew loved Rosemary deeply. They were married for 36 years and Lew cared for her devotedly at their final home in Wilton until her death in February, 2023.
Along with being an avid reader of mysteries, crime procedurals, and history, Lew had many interests. He played chess and cribbage. He was active in community theater, appearing in shows at both Lyric Theater and Portland Players. He was not a singer, but was very proud to have played the role of "Cap'n Andy" in Showboat. He was fascinated by model trains and narrow gauge railways, volunteering for both the Conway Scenic Railway and the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad. A self-taught woodworker, he made puzzles, toys, and sleds for his grandchildren. He was an accomplished cook and baker, winning blue ribbons at the Fryeburg Fair for his jams, jellies, and pies. He and his first wife, Sandra, briefly ran a seasonal, prix fixe restaurant, The Woodshed, out of their historic farmhouse in Standish.
Lew and Ro traveled widely in Europe, Russia, Alaska, and the Caribbean. Their shared love of history took them to dozens of Civil War battlefields across the country. When in Florida at their winter home, visits to Epcot, Busch Gardens, and SeaWorld were frequent. They shared Scottish heritage and a love for the culture, traveling there many times. Additionally, they served as conveners for the Scottish Family Districts Association for 17 years. Lew proudly wore his kilt of the Lochaber Family District tartan and served as the host of the Maine Highland Games.
Public service and volunteerism were essential to Lew's character. He worked for United Way, the Cerebral Palsy Center of Portland, the Hugh O'Brien Foundation, and the Salvation Army, doing everything from serving on the Boards to setting up the folding chairs in the rain and manning the Christmas Tree sale booth. Professionally, his ability to form personal, enduring relationships had lasting impacts. Colleagues remember him as "an excellent administrator, allowing personnel to rise (or fall) on their own merits while nurturing talent"; "a terrific mentor as well as a good friend"; "he was the best pitchman by far."
Composer and producer, Con Fullham, said of Lew, "The Maine Christmas Song would not have existed without him...when I met Lew I was a songwriter and then I realized there was a lot more to do if you had someone to guide you...he had visions no one else did".
Lew is survived by his children Astrid Bowlby, Todd Colby, Eden Bowlby, and Shannon Edwards, and his stepson Anders Olafson, as well as grandchildren, Benjamin Bowlby, Cory Bowlby, Jesse Colby, Justice Colby, Clara Bowlby, Nichole Olafson, Anders Olafson, Jr., and Jessica Harris. He was predeceased by grandson, Peter Russell. He is also survived by twelve great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Lew requested cremation and to be interred beside Rosemary at the Fairview Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington on Saturday, May 18th at 2 pm. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad, P.O. Box B, Phillips, ME, 04966, www.srrl-rr.org. Please visit Lew’s Book of Memories at www.wilesrc.com to share your sympathies, reflections or words of remembrance. Honored to be caring for the family of Lewis E. Bowlby is Wiles Remembrance Center.