It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of recently retired President and CEO of Newark Public Radio- Cephas Bowles. Cephas had been diagnosed with a form of Leukemia approximately 2 years ago and had undergone a bone marrow transplant in November of 2013 in hopes of altering the course of the disease.
Cephas was born in Newark, NJ and we could have had no better champion for this city and the music that was born of its culture- especially its tradition of organ music. When he was tapped to return to Newark to assume the leadership role at WBGO after working at public media station KUAT in Tucson, he joined the board of trustees of NPR and was very vocal in his campaign for diversity within the public radio system.
Cephas was a very private man but certain elements of his life he wouldn’t mind sharing-his commitment to Newark, yes. This music, most definitely. But also his other main passions- public radio and all that it stands for, his connection to Syracuse University where he got his start in radio and his family, most importantly his beloved wife Linda.
We can find no better way to honor Cephas than to steadfastly champion his mission to keep WBGO thriving. He would want nothing more than to know that the work that he began at WBGO more than 20 years ago has a strong future and lives on through the next generation. Over the next few days, you will hear dedications of music in his memory on our air, and our hope is that we are all able to take a moment to reflect on how fortunate we all are to have been touched by his great spirit. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and staff of Newark Public Radio, we send our deepest condolences to his family.
Amy Niles
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Amy Niles |
President & CEO
WBGO | Jazz 88.3 FM
Ph. 973.624.8880 X 256| Fax 973.824.8888
Email aniles@wbgo.org
54 Park Place | Newark, NJ 07102
www.wbgo.org