Dorothy June Sowers

"With heavy hearts, we have said a loving goodbye to our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. As the founder and 37 year Head Coach of the champion Town of Tonawanda Aquettes, she contributed much to the lives of hundreds of synchronized swimmers locally and nationally. Icon, teacher, national official, life-long Buffalonian, community volunteer and friend, she was our family's irreplaceable matriarch inspiring, mentoring and always cheering us on with love. Rest easy in God's embrace, DotDot."

Dorothy was the Founder and Head Coach of the Town of Tonawanda Aquettes 1961-1998 and compiled one of the most amazing records in all of local amateur sports while coaching over 1,000 swimmers during her career. Her teams won more than 1,500 titles in regional, sectional and national competitions including National Junior Olympic and Junior National Duet and Team Titles. The Aquettes dominated the early years of the Empire State Games, winning every medal (gold, silver and bronze) in every synchronized swimming event during the first six years of the Games. Today, Aquettes continue to be one of the premier Artistic Swimming Teams on the East Coast and have been coached by her talented alumni swimmers.

AWARDS AND HONORS

LOCAL:

1981, 1984, 1986 Outstanding Community Service Award Town of Tonawanda

1982 Franklin JJ Diemer Service Award

1987 Erie County Legislative Resolution for Dorothy J Sowers Day

1988 Paul Harris Kenmore/ Tonawanda Paul Harris Fellow Award

1995 Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame Induction Award

1997 Ken-Ton Kiwanis Service Award

1997 Town of Tonawanda Service Award for 37 Years of Employment

2015 Grand Marshall (First Female) of Kenmore Memorial Day Parade

STATE:

1997 SUNY Cortland Alumni of the Year

2003 Empire State Games Synchronized Swimming Leadership Award

EAST ZONE:

2000 Exemplifying Leadership Award

NATIONAL:

1975 USA Amateur Athletic Union Outstanding Contributor Award

1980 Lillian MacKellar Distinguished Service Award

1981 US Synchronized Swimming Hall of Fame Induction

1993 Women's Sports Foundation Coaches' Award

1996 Paragon Award of International Swimming Hall of Fame

VOLUNTEER:

Chairperson, US Synchronized Swimming Awards Committee 1994-1999

Shea's Buffalo 1997-2007

Herschell Carousel Museum 2009-2019

St. Christopher's Bereavement Team 2014-2020

Dorothy was born in Buffalo, NY. and was the beloved wife of the late Charles Sowers; cherished mother of Mary Beth (Timothy) O’Brien; devoted grandmother of Robert (Carrie) and Kevin (Allison) O’Brien and loving great grandmother of Avery and Abigail. Dorothy’s Family will receive friends on Monday September 18th from 3-7 PM at the DENGLER ROBERTS PERNA FUNERAL HOME 3070 Delaware Ave, Kenmore NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday September 19th, 9:30 AM at St. Christopher’s RC Church, 2660 Niagara Falls Blvd, Tonawanda, NY 14150. Please assemble at the church. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dorothy’s memory to the Town of Tonawanda Aquettes 212 Lowell Road, Kenmore, NY 14217 or Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum 180 Thompson Street North Tonawanda, New York 14120. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.DenglerRobertsPernaKenmore.com for the family.