Miss Grace Scott Bowen was born in Cooperstown in 1867 and eventually was employed by the wealthy Ryerson family, who owned a summer home in Cooperstown. She was a governess to their young son Jack.
She accompanied the Ryersons when they traveled to Europe, and returned with them in 1912 when they began their voyage home to America. She traveled first class when they set sail from Cherbourg on April 10, 1912 -- on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. She held Ticket No. PC 17608.
Miss Bowen escaped aboard Lifeboat 4 with Mrs. Emily Ryerson, her two daughters, and Jack.
Jack had been initially denied entry into the boat by Second Officer Lightoller, but his father, Arthur Ryerson, protested that he should go as he was only 13. Lightoller relented.
Grace Scott Bowen went on to become the principal of the St. Christina School of the Susan Fenimore Cooper Foundation. She later headed the Latin Department at the Knox School for Girls in Cooperstown.
She died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Cooperstown in 1945 at age 78, and is buried in Lakewood Cemetery.
Lakewood Cemetery
182 County Highway 31, Cooperstown, New York 13326
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