ALBERT-GOWAN-Obituary

ALBERT J. GOWAN

Cambridge, Massachusetts

1934 - 2017

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Cambridge, Massachusetts

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GOWAN, Albert J. Designer, writer and Professor of graphic design, Albert J. Gowan passed away peacefully from complications of congestive heart failure on November 2, 2017 at 83. "Uncle Al" to generations of students at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Gowan was an inspirational...

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Gran amigo y "maestro". Gracias a el estuve de docente en Mass College of Art. We had a chance to share good times in my home town Madrid (Spain). Al: thanks for all your support and friendhip. Un abrazo.

Al Gowan – ‘Big Al’ as we in the Polytechnic called him, was a very popular designer/teacher who gave terrific projects to our students and stayed with me a few times at our home in Keele during the mid seventies. Al had worked with Victor Papanek, they were good friends and colleagues from Purdue University in Ohio. He knew that Victor had just moved to Manchester, England, for a spell of lecturing at Manchester Polytechnic. We arranged for Victor to come to North Staffs for a lecture which...

Playing darts at Paddy's

Al came to us in England (where I was then Head of Graphic Design, North Staffordhsire Polytechnic) for three or four visits in the mid seventies, purring a charming American drawl about international design trends and America in particular, teaching a meticulous brand of typography, to the delight of our very English students.
A regular visitor to my home in Staffordshire, Al would sing for his supper' by reading one of his own short stories. A fine and humorous writer, he regaled us with...

Thinking out loud with Al, I once mused that it takes a lifetime to create and live a life, and another life time to share the memories with someone else. My loss that I did not have enough time to get to 'know' him. My gain that I got to meet him. It was all good.

Rest in peace beloved Albert J. Gowan. You are deeply loved and missed. Deepest of condolences to the whole family.