Charles E Lowden

Charles Edward Lowden died peacefully at 92. He was born on August 18, 1933 in Manhattan, NY to his parents, the late Ann T. McMahon Lowden and Charles S. Lowden.

He moved to Jersey City at age seven. He attended Saint Paul's Grammar School until 1947, where he began his interest in sports, playing baseball and basketball. He was a former delivery boy for the Jersey Journal, which fostered his interest in sports reporting. He attended Saint Peter's Preparatory School, where he joined the ROTC program, earned five varsity letters in 1951 for basketball and baseball. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in 1955 from Saint Peter's College. He played guard position on the Peacock's basketball team. He earned five varsity letters in college. He pitched four seasons on the baseball team. He worked 10 summer seasons at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City in various capacities, bat boy, ticket taker, refreshment stand and scoreboard keeper.

He pitched in professional baseball for three years; two years for the Gabriel, NY Blues in the Northern League, and one year for for the Watertown, NY for the New York-Pennsylvania League. After this experience he had a career ending injury, while playing on the farm team for the Chicago Cubs. He began his basketball officiating interests during high school. He became a member of the International Association of Basketball Officials (IABBO) in 1956, where he remained an active member for 54 years, particularly with Shore Board No. 194, Shore Umpires Association. At the end of his officiating career, he was certified to officiate seven sports.

He enlisted as a First Lieutenant as an Army Intelligence Officer upon the completion of his ROTC program and received his college degree. He became fluent in German and Spanish. He was assigned to work in Germany for two years. After his return to the US he attended night classes for five years to attain his Masters of Business Administration from Seton Hall University in 1963.

He was the NJ State Chairman of the New Jersey Jaycees Anti-Pollution, Clean Air and Clean Water Program from 1965-1966. His chemistry and business education degrees laid the groundwork for his success in pigments, inks, specialty coating applications, packaging and distribution relations. He was employed by American Cyanamid , American Can, Dynamic Methods Corp., Ciba-Geigy, Dayglo Color Corp., Nicoat, Inc. and M & T Chemicals.

He was the predeceased by his parents, Ann McMahon Lowden and Charles S. Lowden, his first wife Barbara Tilton Lowden, and his second wife Nancy A. Buniva Lowden, his sister in law Irene Tilton Kenney, brother in law George L. Tilton, Jr., and niece Barbara Lynn Kenney-Gibalski.

He is survived by daughters Deborah Lowden Donahue (James), Gay Lowden, his sister, Lois Lowden Wright, four grandchildren, Casey Donahue, Matthew Donahue, Hunter & Avery Wadbrook and niece, Kerri Wright Kardos (Andy), nephew Kevin M. Kenney(Carol) and niece Rachael Kenney and nephew Justin Kenney.

There will be a memorial gathering on Monday, November 10, 2025 from 4-8 PM at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Avenue, Red Bank, NJ. A memorial mass will be held on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 11 AM at the Church of the Nativity in Fair Haven, NJ. Interment to follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Middletown, NJ.

In Lieu of Flowers please donate to Saint Peter's Prep, Saint Peter's University or donate to a charity of your own choice.