The Old Timer’s Association of Greater Danbury inducted Newtown resident Nancy Olson Bowen into its organization, and she was recognized at its 52 Annual Awards Dinner, at The Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury, on September 24.

Bowen was also recognized by the Old Timer’s Association when she was a high school senior. Bowen, a 1977 graduate of Danbury High School, was the first female recipient of the association’s scholarship for high school seniors.

A varsity basketball and softball player, she graduated with high honors. Bowen was named Most Outstanding Player for the basketball team in her junior and senior years; she started at first base for the varsity softball team in all three years of her high school playing days. She received All FCIAC Honorable Mention for softball in 1977, was captain of the basketball team that year, and also was voted Most Athletic by her senior class.

After graduating from Danbury High, Bowen went on to play collegiate softball at the University of Connecticut. She graduated magna cum laude from UConn in 1981 and received a bachelor of science degree in physical education and health. In 1985, Bowen earned a master of science degree in education from Western Connecticut State University, followed by a sixth year professional diploma of advanced studies in administration and supervision from Southern Connecticut State University in 1989.

She continued playing softball and basketball in local leagues with her teammates from high school. Together, competing as the Danbury Mad Hatters, they won the Connecticut Class A Softball Championship in 1985.

Bowen was inducted into the Danbury High School Hall of Fame in 2011.

In 1987, she married Thomas Bowen and had two children, Joseph and Katherine. Throughout her children’s youth Bowen coached both boys and girls in house soccer and basketball, as well as baseball and softball. At the travel level, she coached girls’ basketball, soccer, and softball. Her teams achieved numerous accomplishments, such as the Fairfield County Girl’s Basketball League championship and the Babe Ruth State and New England Regional championship, as well as a third place finish in the Babe Ruth National Tournament.

Bowen’s community service included time as the travel director for Babe Ruth Softball and scheduler for the Newtown Youth Basketball Association.

She received The Newtown Bee Sportsman of the Year Award in 2001 for volunteer efforts with the youth sports programs in Newtown, as well as a the kids having a banner year in Babe Ruth Softball, guiding her U10 team to state and New England championships.

Bowen has taught at John Read Middle School in Redding for the past 34 years. She was honored by the Western Connecticut Superintendents Association in 1989 as a recipient of the Outstanding Achievements in Creative and Caring Education Award. Bowen recently received an Outstanding Program Award from the Connecticut Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance for Project DREAM, a collaborative program with Broadview Middle School titled Danbury and Redding Educational Adventures in Multiculturalism.