Robert "Bob" McGowan

Robert "Bob" McGowan 82, passed away on December 24, 2025, in Key West, Florida.

A lifelong resident of Youngstown, Ohio, Bob was born on September 20, 1943, to Francus Robert and Ann Pauline Ondash McGowan. A 1961 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School.

Bob enlisted in the United Staes Navy in 1967 and was stationed at Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station in Puerto Rico as a U.S. Navy Aviation Electronics Technician, Squadron VC-8.

Upon his honorable discharge in 1971, Bob returned to Youngstown, graduated from Youngstown State University and worked in city government serving as the Assistant Finance Director under Mayor Jack Hunter.

In 1977 Bob obtained his brokerage license and joined Paine Webber Investments. Over the next 45 years, he held positions with Citigroup Global Markets, Morgan Stanley, and LPL Financial, retiring in 2023.

Bob's greatest gift was his unconditional and limitless love, commitment, and devotion to family and friends. For his nieces and nephews. Uncle Bob planned family trips to the Outer Banks of the Carolinas and to the ski slopes of Pennsylvania and New York.

He remained closely connected to each of them, attending their graduations, weddings, birthdays, and many other special events. Bob was widely known for playing the role of Santa Claus, a stint that began in the 1960's and continued with an expanded list of stops into the late 1980's. Bob would make rounds on Christmas Eve visiting the homes of family and friends in the Youngstown area. His list of friends was long, and he remained closely connected not only to his childhood and high school friends, but to his Navy colleagues and those he met throughout his life.

He had a wry sense of humor which would play out in clever pranks, often elaborately planned.

He leaves behind the love of his life, Denise Stewart, with whom he made his home.

Together they enjoyed traveling, gardening, classical music, theater, often serving as volunteers freely giving of their time and talents working with community organizations.

Bob was an active member of the Youngstown YMCA. Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens, the Men's Garden Club of Youngstown, and enjoyed attending the Mahoning Valley Civil War Roundtable discussions and Civil War presentations. He was also a volunteer at St. Paul Monastery in Ellsworth, Ohio.

He leaves six nephews: Christopher Miller (Angela) of Newark. Ohio, Gregory Miller (Laura) of Silver Springs, Maryland; Sean Miller (Stacey) of Canfield, Ohio; Patrick Miller (Virginia) of Honolulu, Hawaii; Michael Miller (Holly) of Ambridge, Pennsylvania; Ryan Miller of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and two nieces; Anne Alikonis (Jason McKay) of Chevy Chase, Maryland; Jill Alikonis (Matthew Gallagher) of Atlanta, Georgia; 14 great nieces and nephews and 3 great-great nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two older sisters; Patricia Ann Miller who passed in 2012 and Marilyn Jean Alikonis who passed in 2007.

A memorial service will be held at a later date, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests that a donation may be made to St. Paul Monastery, Ellsworth, Ohio, the Central YMCA of Youngstown, or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Edward J. Fox & Sons Funeral Home, 4700 Market St. Boardman.