Lowell Hess

Hess, Lowell F.
Lowell F. Hess 93, passed away on December 17, 2014 in Paramus, NJ. Born in Thomas, OK, the first of nine children, Lowell had a long and distinguished career as an artist and commercial illustrator. After attending the University of Oklahoma, where he met his first wife Geraldine, also an art student, Lowell served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1942-1945. He attended the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y. and then worked as an illustrator for many of the nation's top magazines and publishers, including Collier's, Reader's Digest, Boy's Life, Golden Books and Time Life Books. As the heyday for illustrators began to wane, Lowell was fortunate to have met Bob Herlin, CEO of Graphics3 Inc. who hired him as creative director for the company, where he served for more than 25 years designing and illustrating pop-up greeting cards. These designs were among the most advanced of their kind in the world and won many awards. Lowell enjoyed singing in the choir at Southport Congregational Church and was also a highly accomplished woodcarver and furniture maker who made many pieces of reproduction furniture for his 1670's home in Southport, CT. Following Geraldine's death in 1982, Lowell married his wife Nancy who survives him along with his brothers Bill, Stan, and Jim, daughter Laura Bivin (Matt) of Lindenhurst, IL, son Jay (Robin) of Indianapolis, IN, step-daughters Sue Boorman, Pat Hadler (Tom) and Pam Boorman (Arona), six beloved grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed – remembered not only for his tremendous talent and creativity, but also for his curiosity, friendliness and humility. Donations in Lowell's memory may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Research Fund (P38MNEU096) at the Indiana University School of Medicine, c/o IU Foundation, PO Box 7072, Indianapolis, IN 46207-7072 or online at iuf.indiana.edu. A memorial service at the Southport Congregational Church, Southport, CT, is planned for the spring.