Clinton J. Cowels Jr.

Obituary of Clinton J. Cowels Jr.

Clinton J. Cowels, Jr., 88, of Freehold Township passed away unexpectedly on August 19, at SUNY Downstate Health Science University Hospital in Brooklyn. Clinton was born in Englewood, NJ, raised between Teaneck NJ and Bronx, NY. He was among the first to integrate the Teaneck NJ public schools.

In time, he returned to Englewood, NJ to raise a family. Along with his wife Bessie and young children, they moved to Freehold Township in 1978.

The oldest of three siblings, Clinton had an insatiable curiosity for art, foreign cultures, history, science, a natural talent for drawing and a passion for visual arts, topped by an unbounded imagination.

A graduate of the School of Industrial Arts where he met his wife Bessie, and an Alumni of New York City Community College of Applied Arts and Sciences (Associate Degree in Applied Science class of 1958) Clinton served with the National Guard (Honorable Discharge 1959 to 1962) with the Headquarters Battery 1 st Howitzer Battalion 369 th as an SP4 E4, Bronx NY.

After leaving the National Guard, Clinton soon found gainful employment in the advertising world during the time of the "Mad Men" and quickly made a name for himself with his professionalism, skill and wonderful personality. Beginning his career at Chart Makers advertising agency in NYC, he moved on to various roles at Arno Press and Quadrangle Books, eventually attaining the position of Art Director at the New York Times Newspaper where he worked for several years. Among his many accomplishments were awards for the educational filmstrips "U.S. Government in Action" (U.S. Industrial Film Festival, Creative Excellence Award 1970), "The New York Times Current Affairs Filmstrips" (Industrial Exhibitions, Bronze Award 1971), "Crisis of the Environment" (Industrial Exhibitions, Gold Award 1971) and Man on the Moon "Multi-media archive" (Industrial Exhibitions, Grand Award 1971).

After leaving the NY Times, Clinton became a freelance artist and photographer with such clients as Bell Labs and ABC-TV's "Wide World of Sports."

Ultimately, he returned to corporate work as the Manager of Audio-Visual Presentations/Graphic Design and Publications for New York City Transit Authority.

While employed, one of his many endeavors was the successful implementation the FYI network, a prototype audio-visual, station-to-station, system-wide information network.

After retiring, he continued his passion for storytelling by writing and producing his own original film with the help of his best friend Anthony Christiani, who was Director and Videographer - a period Western, filmed entirely in New Jersey - which was unfortunately left unfinished at the time of his passing.

Clinton was not only a loving Father and Brother, he was a friend, a teacher, a natural leader and a fount of wisdom. He would light up any room with his mere presence, could find the good in any bad situation while also being a realist, and encouraged everyone to be the best they could be, to always improve and believe in themselves. He was a physical embodiment of joy itself. He was a man whom, if you only met him for a minute, you would remember him forever with a smile on your face. .

Clinton was predeceased by his wife, columnist Bessie Cowels (d. 2008) and a brother, US Air Force and Vietnam Veteran Senior Master Sergeant Alfonso Cowels (d. 2003).

He is survived by his two sons, Clint Sundiata Cowels of Freehold and Philip C. Cowels and his wife, Joyce of San Antonio, TX; his granddaughter Alexandria and her husband Ibrahim, granddaughters Stephanie, Ruqiyah, Faatimah; brother, Anthony Cowels and his wife Florence; niece Nicole Zavala and her husband, Jose; niece Aejung Cowels and her daughters Salina and Isabella; and his life-partner Andrea Marquez. He touched the lives of many more friends and neighbors both local and international. All of us cherished every second, every moment and every word that we shared with him. His passing will be deeply missed.

All arrangements are private at this time and under the direction of Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township. For information or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.