Just now heard.  Wow.  I'm so sorry.  What a guy! We were best friends for years in the 60s and 70s. Fun loving, caring, smart, gregarious fellow. (Right fine trumpet player too).  First met in cub scouts and formed a deep bond right through high school until different post graduate paths took us apart.   He always approached life with hearty gusto even back then.  Growing up in Missouri, we would camp, hike, backpack, climb cliffs, and explore caves just about every weekend or vacation week possible. Both young scientists, we engaged often in many deep intellectual discussions. I would not be half the man I am today had I not had Dale as my buddy during those formative teen years. Kept me on the right path figuratively and literally.   My sympathies. 

Sending love to Susan, Luke and Emily on Dales birthday.  He was a big man with a big heart.  I know his love continue to surround you.

Dale will forever be the doting husband to Susan that the other vigilers and I were lucky to spend time with, week after week.  I love the way he balanced his care and protection with respect and room for Susan to be the independent person that she is. What a spark between those two. We miss him.

I have been out of touch for some time, so it came as quite a shock when I heard just this evening of Dale’s passing from his Water Board colleague Tom Mumley. On paper, I was a member of the “regulated community” to Dale’s role as “regulator” – presumably on opposite ends of issues. And there were times when we didn’t see eye-to-eye. But more often than not, our roles were complementary rather than adversarial. That was only possible because, although Dale was a staunch defender of the water quality regulations and by extension, the water environment, he was willing to work with you on solutions that were doable and still met the requirements. He was smart, articulate, and tough when he had to be, but always fair. San Francisco Bay and its tributaries are better for Dale’s commitment and efforts to protect them – a lasting gift to us all.

I was lucky to know Dale as a coworker and neighbor. I miss seeing him take his daily walks up the canyon, and his smile and wave and observations of the creek. Wish I could attend tonight, but I am under the weather. Much love to Susan and all!

So many great memories over the years but one in particular popped into my head that I thought was long lost but was such a pleasant surprise to recall. I say surprise because somehow Dale and I took a backpacking trip together to Yosemite, just the two of us! I can’t say for sure but I think it was when we were still going to school at Berkeley together somewhere around 1980 and to be honest, I don’t really remember how it came to be. But despite my poor memory of the early stages, once we hit the trail my recollection of hiking with Dale in the wilderness off Tioga pass is clear as day. One particularly vivid image I have is having to climb up a very rocky ridge to drop down into a valley where we were going to camp that first night. The large rocks made it difficult hiking and I was struggling a bit and trailing. I remember looking up at Dale ahead just absolutely cruising over those boulders and it kept me going. Mountain Man Dale – a true adventurer in all aspects of his life. Several wonderful days in the Yosemite wilderness with my good friend that I will never forget.

(Via Susan) From Mary Kaiser, high school classmate:

I’d like to share two memories I have of Dale from our high-school days. They’re pretty random, but I feel that capture the young man he was at the time… perhaps you’ll see some aspects of his thought process and humor that endured through his later life. Do with them what you like.

The first is from when we were discussing the renovation that downtown St. Louis was undergoing in the early ‘70s. They were putting up shiny new buildings, and everyone was especially impressed with a particularly shiny one… one of those high-rise boxes covered with reflective glass (I’m attaching a picture which MIGHT be the building in question, but shows the effect in any case). Everyone thought it was SO COOL that this building reflected nearby landmarks (such as the Gateway Arch and the Old Courthouse), plus the blue sky and clouds, etc. Wasn’t it beautiful?!? Dale agreed the new building was kinda cool, but then asked what was going to happen when ALL the building downtown were built that way, so all we would have was an endless series of reflective boxes? Wouldn’t it just create a city of funhouse mirrors with nothing to reflect but each other? Wouldn’t we all get lost amongst the infinitely reflective mirrors???

It was the kind of question that only 16-year-old Dale Bowyer could ask.

My second memory is from a dreary day when our sophomore English teacher was out sick, so we had a substitute. I can’t remember the woman’s name, but she had taught at the high school before she retired, and apparently was appalled at how the quality of the school (and its students) had degraded since she left. She shared these views with us, which just got Dale grinning. Then she proceeded to tell us that we probably didn’t even know the meaning of sophomore. “It comes from the Greek words ‘sophos,’ meaning clever or wise, and “moros,” meaning foolish… so you sophy moros, or sophomores, are WISE FOOLS!”

By now Dale is laughing out loud. The sub turned and glared at him… “Yes, young man, you are a wise fool!” Now, we were reading Twelfth Night in this very class, so I had to pipe up… “This fellow is wise enough to play the Fool.” This gave the sub pause, whereupon Dale joined in (from later in the scene)… “Then westward... ho!” — a line that had given us great amusement (especially with the added pause), so our classmate Sheila piped up, “Who you calling Ho?”

The sub is furious now, and has pulled out her pad of pink slips. Signing three of them at the bottom, she thrusted them at us. “You can fill in your names on the way to the principal’s office!” Dale, Sheila, and I gathered our books and headed out the door. We had to take the longest possible way to the principal’s office so that we could decide what names to put on the pink slips. We were tempted to put names of frenemies, but decided that could created more chaos than it was worth. So we settled on Alfred E. Newman, Richard M. Nixon (then president), and Jesus H. Christ.

When we arrived at the principal’s office, the vice-principal (who handled such mattered) looked a bit surprised to see three of the “better students” arriving with pink slips in hand. When we explained what had happened, he just sighed. We all agreed that the best resolution would be for the three of us to spend the rest of the period “in detention” in his outer office, studying for out chemistry test later that day.

I don’t recall seeing that substitute teacher on campus again.

Even as a teenager, Dale recognized the absurdity that surrounded us. I tended to respond to it with frustration, but Dale always saw the humor in it. He was endlessly amused by the adults he was already five steps ahead of.

I shall miss him terribly, but treasure the memories of him even more. His memory is, indeed, a blessing.

Every time I hike to the top of Mission Peak, I remember Dale describing what it was like to paraglide. His joy and mirth was evident and inspiring at work and in conversation. It wasn’t until we were Facebook friends that I found out he was also a mountaineer. I could count on him to post progressive political links for current events that both entertained and informed. I remember his pride in Susans acceptance to law school and her plans for helping people as a career. I’m sad he’s gone, yet comforted that his family of adventurers remain to carry on his inspiration.

This is Dale's cousin Darwin Flaugh in southern Colorado. Dale and his brothers and one time his Dad also came to our house in Los Alamos, New Mexico several times when were kids and into our teens and we did awesome trips backpacking into the Weminuche wilderness. When we all were in our early 20's the three of them came to where I was working at Wolf Creek Ski Area and we got to hang out ,ski ,and party for a week several times. Those were the days. We were always told be careful, be safe-Are you kidding me that's no fun!

Cross country skiing — with Lila Tang, Susan Bowyer and Diane Heinze

Party with co-workers

Dear Susan. My loss has been not getting acquainted with you and Dale earlier.

I admire your and his dedication to important issues in your community, civic, politic, and nature.

And your care for Dale's and your family's needs particularly in the last years.

And your giving our dear Martha a  warm family life in a safe home for her extended time of need.

I'm so sorry Stacy and I no longer travel so we can join your celebration of Dale's life. Love to you all, Henry Blackburn, your mother's loving cousin.

What I learned from Dale: How to fly; How to make a family. How to incorporate an extended family. And more, of course.

Thursday Night Boys Night Out Gang

Mardi Gras birthday party (Jill, Ali, and Dale February bdays)

Condolences to Susan and to all his family!  I always saw Dale taking walks in our neighborhood. I appreciate the presence and support he offered at our weekly vigil so much!