Ritva T. Bowman
Born on February 1, 1937 in Viipuri, FinlandPassed on August 27, 2025 in West Melbourne, Florida
Ritva T. Bowman, 88, of West Melbourne passed away on August 27, 2025. She was born in Finland to the late Vaino and Elina Torsti and lived in various places including Kuopio, Oulu, Helsinki, and Turku.
She loved cross-country skiing and was the embodiment of the famous Finn trait “sisu” (she was resilient). She earned a college degree from the Home Economics Teachers College in Helsinki, and her work included positions at restaurants, hotel kitchens, and as a cooking instructor.
Ritva met her beloved husband Tom in Pasadena, California where she had been spending a year as an au pair. Ritva and Tom married in 1961 and enjoyed life with work taking Tom from Denver to Reading, Berkshire, England, and then to Melbourne, Florida in 1969 where Tom spent the rest of his career at Florida Tech.
She became a proud US citizen and loved rooting for both the US and Finnish Olympic teams. Her hobbies included tennis, hand embroidery, knitting, beading, cooking, and her real passion, sewing. Ritva loved her chocolates and said Finnish chocolates, accompanied by excellent Finnish coffee, were the best in the world. She also had a deep love of dogs and loved to spoil them.
Ritva was predeceased by her daughter Elina; her brother Rauno and her loving husband Tom. She is survived by her children Paul (Andrea), Katriina, Markus (Alisa), and Tony (Barbie) and her grandchildren Marissa, Alexander, Ethan, Brandon, and Ari.
Much appreciation is passed along to all of Ritva’s caregivers over these last few years, in particular long-time aides Pat and Lacey.
Friends of Ritva are invited to join the family at the Catholic blessing, scripture readings, and prayers, to be held on September 20, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., St. Joseph Cemetery, 1422 Miller St., Palm Bay, Florida.
