Andrew Zachary Bower

     Andrew Zachary Bower was born on 14 September 1984 at Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of Harold Eugene Bower Jr. and Cheryl Mae Green. Andrew Zachary Bower died on 22 December 2011 at age 27 years, 3 months and 8 days.
     Andrew was born on 14 September 1984 at Saint Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in his father's last year at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. In May of 1985, the family moved to Cassadaga, New York, to live in the parsonage of Cassadaga Community Baptist Church. In 1987 came a short-distance move to 425 Swan Street in Dunkirk, New York, not far from the shore of Lake Erie. The family remained in Dunkirk until early 1989 when they moved to New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Andrew started school in New Brunswick at Saint Peter's Elementary School. He lived with his family at 89 College Avenue, at one end of Rutgers University fraternity-sorority row. He entertained himself by chatting up pretty sorority girls as they walked on the sidewalk by his side yard. He had to let them go at the alley because he wasn't allowed to cross the street.

For some unknown reason, one time Andrew decided to climb as high as he could in the cherry tree along that sidewalk. He was skilled at going up but could not get back down. His fat father had to climb the tree, observed by a growing crowd of snickering frat guys and sorority sisters, to rescue his butt out of that tree. If only it was so easy to rescue adult children from the demons that would harm them.

In 1995, the family moved to Charleston, South Carolina residing on High Meadow Place in Goose Creek. Andrew continued school there, but not for long. Soon afterward the family moved to Sydney, Australia for his father's work. Andrew lived on Cashel Crescent in Killarney Heights, a community north of Sydney. He attended Killarney Heights schools. His humor and antics endeared him to a wide circle of Australian friends. Some of those relationships continue long-distance to this day. The unusual animal life that lived around the house entertained him. To young Andrew, the blue-tongued lizard that lived in the back yard which, as a relatively large reptile, looked like a dragon.

While in Australia, Andrew fell off a fence and broke the rotator cup in his shoulder. At the hospital, he had an x-ray then talked with the doctor. The doctor asked him how he did it. Andrew replied, "I took off my shirt and stood up against this thing and had to hold my breath." The doctor replied, "Andrew, I know how we take an x-ray; I meant, 'how did you injure your shoulder?'" The family laughed themselves silly for years every time they remembered that conversation. As they wheeled Andrew through the doors into the operating room to reset his shoulder, he called out to his mother, "Mom, if I die, don't let Kristen have my boombox." The clever humor that endeared so many to Andrew was already emerging.

Andrew's shoulder accident happened just as the family was preparing to return to the United States. After a few months of living out of motels in Tampa, which Kristen remembers as "good living," in January 1999 Andrew moved into 37 Kingsford Place where he spent the remainder of his life. He attended Burns Middle School and Bloomingdale High School. He did not finish high school, but did eventually earn a GED with a very high score. He was tremendously proud of that achievement.

The rest of Andrew's story is known to his friends and family and need not be repeated here. His short-lived sojourn in this life ended in his bedroom on the afternoon of December 21, 2011 when his spirit returned to God. His body lingered here on earth until 12:35 a.m. on December 22, 2011 when physical life slipped quietly and peacefully away in the loving presence of his dad, mom and sister, Kristen. For those who loved him, his life was far too short and his manner of passing almost unbearably heartbreaking. Whatever private burdens he carried are now laid down and his spirit is at perfect peace with the Creator of us all. His obituary was published on 23 December 2011 in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, printed in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. His obituary stated:

     Andrew Zachary Bower, 27, of Valrico, Fla., died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, at Brandon Regional Medical Center in Brandon, Fla. Born Sept. 14, 1984, in Pittsburgh, he was the son of Harold E. Jr. and Cheryl M. Green Bower formerly of Cogan Station. Andrew attended high school in Killarney Heights, Australia, and Brandon, Fla. He earned his GED in 2008.

Andrew worked in sales in the Tampa Bay area. He had a big heart and a gentle way about him that endeared him to a wide circle of friends who knew him as "Pugsley" or just "Pugs." He enjoyed performing as an amateur stand-up comic and rapper in Tampa clubs.

Surviving, in addition to his parents of Valrico, Fla., are his grandparents, Harold Sr. and Rosanna Wright Bower, of Cogan Station, and uncles, Steven D. Bower of Rose Valley and Ted W. Green of Cogan Station. He is also survived by his uncle, Brian S. Bower Sr. of Bethel, and aunt, Lynn Bower Young of Greenville,S.C. Andrew's three sisters also survive him, Heather N. Dallas of Charleston S.C., and Melynda A. Johnson and Kristen J. Bower of Valrico, Fla. He loved teasing and playing with his nieces and nephew, Emilee Dallas, Paige Dallas, Mariah Bower, Jeanah Johnson and Elijah Johnson.

A private graveside service will be held in the spring at Blooming Grove Cemetery where Andrew's remains will be interred beside his maternal grandparents, Robert and Jean Beach Green, late of Cogan Station. The family suggests that anyone wishing to make a memorial tribute in Andrew's name consider contributions to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention www.afsp.org or the Blooming Grove Historical Society www.bloominggrovehistoricalsociety.org.