CALVIN Bowen, who became one of Jamaica’s most respected newspapermen and retired as an assistant editor of the Gleaner newspaper, died in Florida yesterday at the age of 85.

“He was the complete journalist — a master of his craft, well rounded and a mentor to many young journalists,” said Ken Allen, who has been a journalist and knew Bowen from the start.

“When I started at the Gleaner in the early 1950s, he showed me the ropes,” added Allen who became editor-in-chief of the Gleaner but is now in-charge of the editorial pages. “Later he became my friend and mentor. He was very efficient and someone who did not suffer fools gladly.”

Bowen joined the Gleaner in 1933 at the age of 18. He became a news editor there in 1945 and stayed in that post for four years.

In 1951 he became the first editor of the Gleaner’s afternoon stable mate, the Star. He left that post and the Gleaner in 1956 but returned seven years after to work as an industrial reporter. By 1981 he was promoted to assistant editor and stayed in that position until 1995.

“He was quite pleasant but he could be caustic and waspish to persons who rubbed him the wrong way,” said longtime friend and fellow journalist, Hector Bernard.

“He had a good grasp of verse and wrote satirical verse under the name of Puck. I give him credit for that… He was also writing his column in the Gleaner up to a few weeks ago,” Bernard said.

Sunday Observer columnist, John Maxwell, who met Bowen when he joined the Gleaner as a cub reporter 50 years ago, described Bowen as a well-rounded editor and a good teacher.

“I think that he was one of the most well-trained newspaperman in Jamaica’s history,” said Maxwell. “He was well rounded and a good teacher. He used to conduct classes for trainees at the Gleaner a long time ago.”

Bowen was a Commonwealth Journalism Scholar and studied at the London Polytechnic in 1949. Apart from his stints at the Gleaner he also worked for six years at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) where he was credited for setting up the public relations department.

He also acted as editor for several publications including Public Opinion (1943-1944) and the Daily News (1944-1945).

“He was also editor of the Morning Post, a short-lived daily published in the 1940s” Maxwell said.

“He was a very competent journalist and news editor. I was grateful for his instruction and I am sure that every journalist that passed through the Gleaner in the last 50 years would have come in contact with him.”

Bowen married the daughter of well-known Jamaican educator, F A Foster. The couple had two children — Paul and Christopher. Bowen also leaves behind two grandchildren.