Lester D. "Mickey" Fowler Jr.

1924 - 2021

Lester "Mickey" D. Fowler, Jr.
Lester "Mickey" D. Fowler, Jr. cast off for the next adventure surrounded by his family on October 31, 2021. Mickey was born August 5, 1924, to Lester and Mable Fowler of Middlefield, Connecticut. Always an outdoorsman, Mickey was the first Eagle Scout in Middlesex County, and his skill with all things woodsy and fishy served him well throughout his life. Mickey was a standout athlete in baseball and football for Woodrow Wilson High School, graduating with honors in 1943. He went on to Yale, where he joined the Navy when war broke out. He claimed they educated him so thoroughly the war was over before he had a chance to be useful. He graduated from Dartmouth in 1947 with an engineering degree and traveled the country for several years thereafter with his friend, "Duck" Olsen, canoeing and working odd jobs to see the country. He spent six months working in mining and lumber camps before concluding that a life of manual labor might not be all it was cracked up to be. He returned to Connecticut, as he would call it, "the land of milk and honey", and purchased a local grocery store which soon became Fowler's Market. Over the years, his children were enlisted to work at the store and memories from those years of forced labor, including mandatory inventory bright and early every New Year's Day morning, continue to evoke laughter. Fowler's Market was a popular local gathering spot and the venue from which he wrote a hilarious advertising column, "Letters from the Janitor," some of which are archived in the Town Offices. In 1949 Mickey married the beautiful Mary Lee Mozier, and together they raised five children, Douglas, Susan, Stephen, Bruce, and Dwight. Dad conveyed his love of animals and competitive sports, and strove to imprint his respect for honesty, hard work, humor, and humility. Summers were spent on Cedar Island in Clinton, Connecticut, where fishing, sailing, clamming, and crabbing dominated the agenda. Mickey's only day off was Tuesday, and whatever activities he had planned for that day, including obligatory chores, were not optional for the children. Fishing was a passion, and the kids were forbidden to convey his secret fishing spots or baiting techniques to friends and neighbors. It was frequently speculated that extra laps were imposed by our swimming instructor as a penalty for not squealing. Winters were spent learning to ski at what was then Powder Hill Ski Area, where Mickey taught all five kids and a host of friends the skills needed to become competitive ski racers in high school and college. Throughout it all, Mickey and Lee loved Dixieland Jazz. They traveled around the state to go dancing regularly, often taking all the kids along. In his spare time, Mickey made beautiful wooden furniture that will be treasured for generations to come. He was a dedicated husband, father, and friend, and his generosity to those in need earned him lifelong respect. Mickey was a successful businessman, and he was a revered Director of the First Federal Savings and Loan Bank in Madison, Connecticut, throughout the 70s and early 80s. He won several awards for innovation and service, but always declined to make an acceptance speech. He joked that he didn't think he could speak for ten minutes without swearing, but in truth he simply recoiled from any sort of pretense or self-promotion. Treating Lee to their first real vacation in April of 1988 proved to be an unhappy decision, as the store burned to the ground on April 18, 1988, in his absence. Mickey was lost without his employment and pictures saved over the years show him walking sadly through the charred remains of his livelihood weeks after the fire. Ultimately, he built a professional building where the store had stood. Through his dedication and labor, the office building now contains a wonderful restaurant, The Blackbird Tavern, and a host of offices. A master of all trades, he was able to build or repair almost anything that needed attention over the years. Beloved by all for his generosity and humor, Mickey's nurses continued to take him to "work" until the last week of his life. As he often said in response to how he had spent his day, "Well, I didn't do much, but it sure seemed like a lot." Mickey's mind remained sharp to the end, and he never complained despite what must have been considerable pain. His beaming smile lit the room whenever a loved one arrived. We looked to him for advice and historical perspective to the very end, and we have no one in mind to fill the enormous void his passing will leave. Never a religious man, Mickey was not convinced of life after death. Nonetheless, we believe his unwavering fairness, honesty, and generosity will stand him in good stead wherever he goes. Mickey is survived by his beloved dog, Einstein, his children and their spouses, attentive grandchildren, Lucas, Melissa, Hannah, Samson, Liam, Austin, Katie, and David, as well as his brother, James Fowler and wife, Barbara, nephews and nieces, James Fowler, Jr., Dawn Fowler, Beth Davis, and Kendra Beaver. He was predeceased by his sister, Rita Beaver, her son, Ned, and his grandson, Ben. Arrangements are being handled Biega Funeral Services in Middletown, Connecticut. Condolences may be expressed on their website https://www.biegafuneralhome.com. A celebration of Mickey's life will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Save the Sound, 900 Chapel Street, Suite 2202, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, or your favorite animal rescue society.