Robert D. "Don" Lowry, former CEO of the New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston, passed away peacefully at home late Monday, June 22nd at the age of 95. Mr. Lowry was employed at the New England Deaconess Hospital for thirty years, from March of 1946 to March of 1976, becoming its chief executive officer from 1954 until his retirement. He remained on the Board for several years and, when the hospital later merged to become Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, he was named a Trustee for Life. The Lowry Medical Office Building at 110 Francis Street, Boston was named for him in honor of his many accomplishments during his tenure at the hospital. He was beloved by his employees for his humility, his friendliness and his willingness whenever necessary to pitch in and do whatever he asked of others. He was an enthusiastic supporter of nursing education, admired and highly respected by the nursing staff, the physicians, and the trustees with whom he worked many of whom became close friends. Under his popular leadership, the Deaconess grew from 298 beds to a 482 specialty referral hospital known thoughout the world for treatment of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, as it developed a formal relationship with Harvard Medical School. Mr. Lowry had extraordinary warmth and empathy for people of all ages and positions, and he made everyone comfortable in his presence. Many friends and employees were drawn to bring their problems to him because, even if he were unable to find a solution, he would leave them feeling comforted, respected, and less lonely and discordant. He loved the people he worked with. As one trustee said at Mr. Lowry's retirement dinner, "Don's talent has been to bring people around to his way of thinking. He never argued. But soon I'd find myself doing what he wanted me to do...and happy to do it...and thinking it was all my own idea."
"Don" Lowry was born on a farm in Doniphan, Nebraska in 1913, a town of about 300 people. His father later became a grocery store owner and Postmaster. His mother had been a school teacher. after graduating from Doniphan High School, Mr. Lowry worked for several months in a commercial photography studio in Hastings, Nebraska, before moving to California in 1931 where he attended Sacramento College. During the Depression he held several jobs in sales prior to starting his own commercial refrigeration business in Sacramento. Ten years later in March of 1941 he was drafted into the Army and, when World War II was declared in December of that year, his 9 month stint extended to five years. In the Army, he helped to set up an x-ray department and trained x-ray technicians at the Station Hospital in San Luis Obispo, California. He was commisioned in the medical Administrative Corps in 1942 and, as a Captain, served as adjutant to the 102nd Station Hospital in Australia as well as in New Guinea, the Netherlands East Indies, and the Philippines, eventually leading to his life's work in hospital administration. Photography remained his avocation for many years. And, his other great joy in his "off" time from the Deaconess was his 34-foot cabin cruiser, "The Sequester," on which he spent many happy hours entertaining family and friends during the summer months, often serving them a unique sandwich he called the "Sequester Special."
While leading the Deaconess Hospital, Mr. Lowry served terms as president of the Massachusetts Hospital Association and of the New England Hospital Superintendent's Club. He was an active member of the New England Hospital Assembly, the National League for Nursing, and numerous other hospital-related groups, and remained a Life Diplomate of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Upon his retirement from the Deaconess, he was honored by a vote of the physisians to being named an Honorary Member of the Medical Staff. He also was a board member of the Morgan Memorial and in the 50's a founding member and senior warden of St. John's Episcopal Church in Westwood, Massachusetts and head of it's Building Committee. For several years in the late '70's and early '80's he served on the governing board of the Old North Church in Boston where he remained a member of the congregation thoughout his life.
He leaves his wife of 30 years, Eleanor (Clapp) Lowry, his brother Richard and his wife of Tavares, Florida, three sons and their wives, Donald G., a lawyer in Falmouth, Maine and Osprey, Florida, David R., a retired school principal now living in Southborough, Ma and Steven C., a Naval Commander, retired. Mr. Lowry also leaves 3 adult step children and a large number of loving grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Old North Church, 193 Salem Street, Boston, on Thursday morning, July 16th at 11 AM immediately followed by a reception in Church courtyard. Following with his wishes and devotion to medical education, Don has left his body to the Anatomical Gifts Department of Harvard Medical School.
Expression's of sympathy in Mr. Lowry's name may be made to The Old North Church, 193 Salem Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02113 or to the Development Office of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.