Longest-serving Mote volunteer says goodbye

16,000 hours — that’s 667 days or 21 months. That’s how much time Dave Bowman has spent volunteering at Mote Marine Aquarium.

Now, Mote’s longest-running volunteer is saying goodbye, as he prepares to move to Alachua.

Bowman began volunteering at Mote in October 1980, when the aquarium first opened to the public. He had recently moved down to the Sarasota area to take care of his parents and decided he needed to find a hobby in his free time.

“I went to the volunteer center for the city of Sarasota,” Bowman said. “The woman at the desk said that a new aquarium was opening and asked if I’d be interested in that. The very simple answer I had was ‘You’re damn right I would be."

Bowman served as the Saturday day chair and also as a guide at the mammal and sea turtle exhibits. He has also trained hundreds of volunteers.

In his 35 years of volunteer work at the aquarium, Bowman has seen Mote grow and evolve to become one of the best aquariums in the U.S., but its basic message of education has remained the same.

“It’s become a state institution, but it’s still the same Mote,” Bowman said. “The public education role of Mote dates all the way back to 1955. Even when we were in just one big room, we would have aquarium junkies at the exit say something along the lines of we’re a lot smaller than other aquariums, but they enjoyed it here so much more because they’ve learned. They experienced the joy of learning, not just looking at pretty fishes.”

Bowman now works the Saturday morning volunteer shift alongside other volunteers, most of whom he’s trained.

Although Bowman will no longer be a regular volunteer at the aquarium, he doesn’t plan to disappear from Mote forever.

“I plan on going to some night functions and the volunteer awards in April,” Bowman said. “There’s a 35-year pin with my name on it, and I want that. I don’t think anyone else will manage to get 35 years as a volunteer. It’s just been a very, very soul-satisfying experience. I’m going to miss the whole thing.”

Although Bowman is leaving, his legacy at Mote will remain.

“Dave Bowman’s unwavering support exemplifies the true spirit of a volunteer, mentor, friend and dedicated community servant,” said Robert Rogers, volunteer coordinator at Mote. “His actions serve as an inspiration to others.”