Harvey Kent Bowen

On July 17, 2025 Harvey Kent Bowen peacefully passed away at his home in Belmont, MA with his wife Kathy by his side. Kent was born on November 21, 1941 to Sara Bailey Darley and Elmer Joseph Bowen in Salt Lake City, UT and spent his formative years in Magna, UT. Kent’s life is an example of the legacy his parents left on him; learning, teaching, and serving. 

Kent lived a life full of family, academic, and spiritual accomplishments. He faithfully served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Central Germany mission, he married Kathleen Jones in the Salt Lake City Utah temple, served as Bishop of the Cambridge Massachusetts Ward, Stake President of the Cambridge Massachusetts Stake, Mission President of the Tacoma Washington Mission, and Temple President of the Boston Massachusetts Temple. 

Kent graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelors of Science in Materials Science, he received a Masters Degree from MIT in Materials Science, and a PhD degree from MIT in Materials Science and Ceramics Processing. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Kent was a professor at MIT for 22 years and then a professor at Harvard Business School for 15 years. He has authored or co authored 190 articles, 45 Harvard case studies, and published 2 books. 

Kent is survived by his wife Kathy Jones of 60 years; and his children Natalie, Jennifer (Barry) Patraiko, Melissa, Kirsten, and Jonathan (Nina) and his sister Kathlene Bowen. He will be forever remembered by his 6 grandchildren, Penelope, Morgan, Reilly, Rivers, Hattie, and Joaquin.

Kent was predeceased by his father Elmer Joseph, his mother Sara Bailey Darley, his brothers Ray, Darley, Jay Lynn, and his sisters Sherma, Liane, and Ivlue.

The funeral service will be held July 24th at 1:00 pm at the Belmont Chapel of the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 15 Ledgewood Place, Belmont, MA, 02478. The services will also be broadcast via Zoom. 

In lieu of flowers, we invite you to make a donation in Kent’s name to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

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