Jim Dowe, 1948-2013

Photo / David A. Rodgers Jim Dowe, former CEO of Bangor Savings Bank and executive director of Maine Public Broadcasting Network, was widely respected for his leadership abilities. He recently died of cancer.

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By Carol Coultas

Maine's banking and philanthropic communities lost a great contributor last month when Jim Dowe, former CEO of Bangor Savings Bank and former executive director of Maine Public Broadcasting Network, lost his battle with cancer.

I first met Jim, a Turner native, when he had just made the transition from CEO of Bangor Savings Bank to take the reins at MPBN. It was 2006, and with only two months on the job at the time of our interview, Jim was enthusiastic about shaping the future of the public broadcasting network.

That he did, helping MBPN weather attacks on its state funding sources and rallying members to continue supporting the network through the worst of the recession. When he left the post in 2012, he had increased the organization's contributions from grants and membership fees to $11.3 million from $10.5 million in 2007.

He oversaw record-breaking success at Bangor Savings Bank, where he was CEO for 10 years. During his tenure, Jim led the bank's transition from a regional bank with $787 million in assets to Maine's biggest homegrown bank with assets of $1.8 billion. It was his vision and leadership of the bank that drew Mainebiz's attention in 2003, when we named him our Business Leader of the Year.

But what I remember most about Jim wasn't his executive management style or his ability to position his organizations for growth. It was his easy ability to engage people, to listen to their concerns. His willingness to help in whatever way he could. It's no surprise that when he decided he wanted to experience life outside the boardroom, he went to Kenya to help economic development efforts in the area of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

A man of many skills and talents, he seemed happiest when he was sharing them for the greater good. Lucky for us, he called Maine home.