Richard Sherman Lowe

1949 ~ 1995

Cancer claimed the life October 2, 1995 of Richard Lowe, who was development director for the Tucson Association for the Blind.  Lowe, 45, was a Tucson native.  He was diagnosed with cancer in June, said his wife, JoAnn.

He had worked for the Association for the Blind since 1993.  Before that, he operated his own advertising and marketing business.  Lowe was an advertising representative for Tucson Newspapers from 1974 to 1989--in charge of banks, thrists, and Phoenix advertising agencies until taking over as general advertising manager in 1983.  He left Tucson Newspapers to become advertising director for Territorial Newspapers and worked there for about a year.

A graduate of Tucson High School, Lowe also attended the University of Arizona.

Lowe was struck by a car when he was crossing a street at age 15, an the accident paralyzed his legs.  He actively worked for disability rights and served as a chairman of the Tucson Commission on Disability Issues.

Lowe is survived by his wife; parents, George and Dorothy Lowe, of Tucson; brother Michael of Iowa; and three children from a previous marriage who live in Kentucky; sons Seth and Kevin and daughter Morgan.

Visitation is at 1:00 p.m. with a memorial service following at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 5 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 8501 E. Broadway.

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"Wheelchair no barrier to Lowe"

by David Pittman on Oct 03, 1995, Tucson Citizen

Former Tucson Newspapers advertising manager Richard S. Lowe lived life to the fullest.

Richard S. Lowe wasn’t always dealt the best cards in life, but he was greatly admired by those who knew him for playing the hand he was given with determination, good humor and courage.

Mr. Lowe, 45, who spent the past three decades in a wheelchair after being struck by an automobile, died at his home just before 11 a.m. yesterday of cancer of the esophagus.

“This was another obstacle in his life, and he said he would beat it or die trying,’ said his wife, JoAnn. “He was just as determined as he ever was.’

Mr. Lowe, who formerly served as general advertising manager of Tucson Newspapers, also was development director for the Tucson Association for the Blind Inc. He left that post in June after his cancer was diagnosed.

“Richard’s biggest thing was his sense of humor,’ his wife said. “He always said he was put on this earth to make people laugh – and he did just that.’

Mr. Lowe’s life was forever changed in 1964 when he was crossing Country Club Road at 22nd Street with two of his school chums. At the time he was a 15-year-old member of his high school football squad, big and husky and ready for the world.

What he wasn’t ready for was the speeding car, piloted by a drunken driver, that ran a red light and hit the three youths.

Mr. Lowe’s body was hurled 20 feet. He came down on the car’s hood and caught his right leg on the hood ornament. The car, still plowing full speed ahead, ripped his right leg apart and tossed him down the road, where he came to a skidding halt – a pile of torn flesh, broken bones and blood, unconscious, but not dead.

That night, Mr. Lowe spent 11 hours in surgery. That was followed by 10 more operations during the next year to repair one leg that had been broken in six places, another leg that had been ripped almost beyond recognition, a pair of battered kidneys and a severely ulcerated stomach, plus a bladder that didn’t work any more, among other things.

What the doctors couldn’t repair – no doctor ever has – was his severed spinal cord that left him mostly paralyzed below the waist.

Doctors said he should have died, but he simply refused. Nonetheless, he was hit hard by the realization that he would never walk again.

“It was tough,’ Mr. Lowe said in speaking to a Tucson Citizen reporter of the adjustment he was forced to make as a result of his injuries. “It took me a while to accept it.’

Mr. Lowe said his mother pushed him to do his best and not feel sorry for himself. He did keep going and was rewarded with a remarkable breakthrough.

Several vital functions gradually began to return to his battered body – namely bowel, bladder and sexual control and the welcomed dignity that go with them.

Mr. Lowe, who considered himself lucky, became determined to live his life completely independently, no differently from anyone else, except to do it from a sitting position.

“He was once told by a nun that whatever God wanted him to do he could do it sitting down – and he believed her,’ said JoAnn. “He was remarkable because he never asked, `Why me?’ ‘

Mr. Lowe, a Tucson native, went on to graduate from Tucson High School. He also attended the University of Arizona.

He went to work for Tucson Newspapers in 1974 as a receptionist. He rose through the ranks, being promoted to salesman, sales coordinator, financial advertising specialist and, finally, general advertising manager for the agency, which is owned by the Tucson Citizen and The Arizona Daily Star and performs advertising, production and circulation functions for the two separately owned newspapers.

On the last day of 1981, Mr. Lowe and his first wife, the former Nancy Whatley, became the parents of triplets.

Mr. Lowe was divorced from Nancy in 1984. He married his second wife, the former JoAnn Anduaga, in April 1986.

Mr. Lowe departed Tucson Newspapers in 1989 to take a position as advertising director for Territorial Newspapers, now known as The Daily Territorial.

In 1992, Mr. Lowe formed his own advertising business, which he operated from his home. Soon afterward, he also took on the post of development director for the Tucson Association for the Blind.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Mr. Lowe is survived by his three children, Seth, Morgan and Kevin, and his first wife, all of whom live in Berea, Ky.

He is also survived by his second wife; his parents, Dorothy and George Lowe of Tucson; a brother, Michael of Winterset, Iowa; four sisters-in-law; three brothers-in-law and seven nieces and nephews.