Bike-Riding Hofstra Music Professor Dies after Hit and Run

Courtesy family of Bob Bowen

Around 11 p.m. on August 26th, a 45-year-old father of two from Astoria was run over by a white truck hauling a flatbed trailer at Second Avenue and 59th Street. No arrests were made in the hit-and-run, which happened at a particularly treacherous part of Second Ave by the Queensboro Bridge. The man died the following Monday, and today Newsday identifies him as jazz bassist and Hofstra University music professor Robert Emmett Bowen III. One of his children has Down syndrome, and Bowen's devastated "soulmate" writes on her blog:

I cannot imagine anything sadder or harder to grasp. Bob Bowen, my soulmate, friend, and coparent was severely injured in a brutal hit-and-run incident while riding his bicycle in Manhattan on Thursday, August 26. Despite exceptional care at New York Presbyterian's Trauma Center, we lost him Monday night, August 30, just before midnight. He was loved by so many, and Bobby, Stella, and I are receiving so much love right now.

There was a private funeral service held in Astoria last week, but friends, students, and loved ones are planning public service to be held at the end of September or beginning of October. Ibeam music studio will present a concert of Bob’s music on Sept 16th to raise funds for the memorial.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on September 6, 2010 3:35 PM

Comments [rss]

The Guardrail

Has anyone biked over the 59th St bridge recently? I ride over it every day, and tonight I took a picture of the riding area on the approach to the bridge by First Ave where there are barricades. There was a fair amount of room a few days ago, but now you can barely get one bike through but they made more room for automobile traffic where there was already ample room. The city needs to do a better job of keeping things safe for the cyclists, this is just ridiculous!

I posted a few pictures on my site, take a look at the link below:

http://theguardrailblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/59th-street-bridge-pedbike-approach-is.html

ides_of_march

Terrible tragedy.

Prayers for the man's family.

I recall seeing an accident in that same area where some teenager was crushed to death under a truck turning the corner. Bloody sneakers on the sidewalk is the disturbing image that stays with me.

nicemarmot

That intersection/bridge entrance is a giant death trap for pedestrians AND bicyclists. You can really only cross safely under the tram entrance, and even that's iffy at the speed drivers come off the bridge.

gimme

dude looks (or looked) like the dude from scanner cop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-X4ebtEfZk

Rocknrope

Notice that strange feeling in your gut?

It's called regret, for posting just a dickish comment.

creeper

hi gimme.

fuck you and your lame attempt at humor.

what he looks like is a father, friend and partner who was just killed. have some fucking respect you pathetic troll.