James Bowes, 60, General Counsel of Liberty Property Trust, Springfield High Grad

James J. Bowes, 60, passed away on Wednesday, November 20 at his home in St. Davids, PA, after a year-long battle with advanced-stage lung cancer. 

Mr. Bowes was general counsel and secretary of Liberty Property Trust, the successor company to Rouse & Associates. A member of Liberty’s five-person executive team, he was instrumental in helping guide Liberty’s growth from a $1.6 billion company to the $8 billion company it is today.  In addition to his numerous legal and strategic duties, in the past decade he took responsibility for structuring and furthering Liberty’s efforts in sustainability, acting as the company’s internal advocate for the adoption of ever more progressive sustainable initiatives. 

A non-smoker, Mr. Bowes received a diagnosis of incurable lung cancer in the fall of 2012. “Jim was an inspiration to everyone at Liberty, a man with insatiable intellectual curiosity, true compassion for humanity, and a keen wit,” said Bill Hankowsky, Liberty’s chief executive officer. “Regardless of what he was facing, he wanted to keep working, to keep contributing, and he faced the future with strength, courage, and unstoppable humor.” 

Born in Philadelphia, PA, Mr. Bowes was a graduate of Springfield (Delco) High School, the Pennsylvania State University and Villanova Law School. He joined the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1979 and rose to the level of Chief  Enforcement Attorney of the Philadelphia branch.  In 1984 he joined the law firm of Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley and became partner in 1991.  He joined Liberty in 1996, a company for which he had the highest regard. 

Notwithstanding his impressive professional achievements, Mr. Bowes considered his most important role in life to be that of father and family man.  Emulating his own parents whom he respected greatly, each day he imparted to his sons his personal mantra of “Duty.  Honor.  Integrity.” 

Mr. Bowes is survived by his wife of 22 years, Leslie (nee Hitchings) and their four sons Carson, Tanner, Trevor and Clayton.  He is also survived by a brother and his four loving sisters Kathleen Dunn (Frank), Marie Orr (Bill), Ann Johnson (Jerry) and Jean Caffrey (Jim) as well as many nieces,  nephews, and cousins in Pennsylvania and Georgia. 

An avid cyclist, Jim Bowes enjoyed family cycling vacations and weekend bicycle rides with friends. He was also a soccer coach and swim-team dad, spending much of his free time over the past ten years cheering on his sons while enjoying the camaraderie of other parents at swim meets across the region. Fascinated by the world around him, Mr. Bowes was a member of the board of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. He also served on the Villanova University School of Law Board of Consultors and the Citizens Audit Review and Financial Advisory Committee (“CARFAC”) of Radnor Township. 

Memorial information: 

A service in honor of Mr. Bowes will be held on November 23, 2013 at 10:00 am at the Villanova School of Law Atrium, 299 North Spring Mill Road, Villanova, PA 19085. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions in Jim’s memory can be made to the Abramson Cancer Center (Lung Cancer and Related Disorders Research Fund) or to Villanova University School of Law.