Randolph Bowcott Obituary (2020)

Randolph (“Randy”) William Bowcott, 71, passed away on December 3, 2020. He was born on March 21, 1949 in St. Louis, Missouri to Nadine (“Wendy”) and William Bowcott. He attended Ladue Horton Watkins High School before moving to Nashville, Tennessee to obtain a Bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University in 1971. After college, Randy moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he obtained a Master of Arts from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Randy later completed doctorate coursework at the University of Chicago. Randy served as an educator for more than 35 years, teaching at various colleges including Harper College and College of Lake County. Randy was a professor of criminology and law at Northeastern Illinois University and served as the head of the criminal justice department for some time. Randy’s lifelong passion was historic preservation and restoration. He purchased his home on Sheridan Road in downtown Waukegan in 1981 as a four-unit apartment building. He spent years restoring the home to the appearance and décor that it would have had in 1857 when it was built for Moses Evans, a doctor who served alongside General Ulysses S. Grant in the Civil War. The home has been featured in the news over the years and was named as a landmark in Waukegan’s Historic Marker Program in 2006. He spent much of his time researching and collecting antique furniture and fixtures for the home. In his spare time, Randy enjoyed watching and playing sports. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and was known to decorate the exterior of his home and walkways with Cardinals memorabilia each time the team made the postseason (which, to his delight, was often). He served as a women’s softball league coach for many years and later coached his son’s little league team to many victories. He also enjoyed traveling to his summer home in Schapville, Illinois just outside of Galena, as well as volunteering and serving on the boards of A Safe Place and the Waukegan Historical Society. In recent years, he volunteered with the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop in Chicago where he was able to foster his enthusiasm for learning about the Civil War. Randy is preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather Homer Carder, his stepsister Carolyn Carder, and stepbrother Steve Carder. He is survived by his children Ashley Bowcott of Atlanta, Georgia and Conner Bowcott of Chicago, Illinois, his brother and sister-in-law Greg and Ellsa Bowcott of San Diego, California, his nephews and their wives (Eric and Shalom Bowcott of San Diego, California, and Ryan and Jing Bowcott of San Diego, California) as well as two great-nephews (Owen and Liam Bowcott of San Diego, California). The family would also like to thank Randy’s wonderful neighbor, Harry E. Came, for all his help and support over the years. Randy’s life will be celebrated privately. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Waukegan Historical Society.