SARASOTA, Fla. — It is with great sadness that Drug Store News reports the unexpected passing of ECRM CEO and founder Charlie Bowlus, who has died from complications following emergency surgery three weeks ago.
“My father would not want us to mourn his death,“ noted ECRM president Mitchell Bowlus in an Aug. 11 letter to ECRM employees. “Rather, he would want us to celebrate his tremendous life and further his passion and vision for improving the way companies do business. His courage, determination, humility and his love of life have undoubtedly touched all of our lives. We are all blessed to work for a company that has been shaped by the will, leadership and vision of my father. These qualities epitomize what we will continue to stand for in the future.”
Charlie Bowlus, a long-time industry vet, began his retail career during college at Ohio State University, when he worked for a small drug chain, owned by a friend’s father. From there, Bowlus went on to become a buyer and wholesaler for various chains, including Target, Cook-United and Boston Distributors Inc.
But Bowlus truly left his mark on the industry in 1994, when he revolutionized retail conferences by leveraging technology and a “speed-dating,” approach in developing the Efficient Program Planning Session style meetings with which ECRM has become synonymous. Since then, the company has held more than 800 category-specific meetings on four different continents. This year, there were more than 90 different events on the ECRM meeting calendar.
“Over time, we will all be relieved of the anguish of our bereavement and left only with a cherished memory of my loving father and solemn pride to have known such a great man,” Mitchell Bowlus noted.
As of late Thursday details for a memorial service to honor Bowlus were still being finalized.
The editors and publishers of The Drug Store News Group express their deepest sympathies to the Bowlus family.
Drug Store News invites readers to share their memories of Charlie Bowlus in a special memorial article, celebrating his life and career. You can post your comments by clicking "post a comment" at the bottom of this page, by visiting our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/DrugStoreNews, or you can send your comments directly to Rob Eder, editor of Drug Store News, at reder@lf.com.
BOWLUS CHARLES BOWLUS, CEO and Founder of ECRM, a Solon based company, passed away. It is with great sadness to announce that Charles Bowlus, 64, passed away last week following complications from an emergency surgery. A leader in his industry, Charles founded ECRM, a company that provides business solutions for consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers around the world. Bowlus was survived by his wife, Elizabeth Bowlus; children, Mitch Bowlus and Melissa Fontanella; sister, Sharon Bowlus, step children; Katy and Jenna Biegelsen and grandchildren; Michael and Miranda Fontanella. The Bowlus family will be hosting a celebration of life memorial tribute for Mr. Bowlus on Monday, August 22, at the Cleveland Browns Stadium in the City View Club Lounge from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. where friends, family and colleagues can celebrate his life as he wished. For more information about the memorial, please visit 
