Welcome to the memorial page for
Edward T. Lowe
May 16, 1921 ~ November 22, 2017 (age 96) 96 Years OldShare Tribute:
Edward Thomas Lowe, 96, born in Chicago on May 16, 1921 to Sidney P. Lowe and Henrietta Bailey Lowe passed peacefully at home on Nov. 22, 2017. He grew up in Chicago. He had a love of learning about anything new which carried on throughout his life. He was a good athlete exceling in each sport. He maintained a 4 year grade average of 97% in high school graduating in 1939 with a rank of 53 in a class of 1,089 boys from Lane Technical High School in Chicago. He was hired by an engineering firm after graduation and shortly after that he enlisted in the Coast Guard. He married the love of his life, Mildred, in 1943 and they began an amazing 22 year CG career and adventure together.
He served on the Atlantic, the Mariposa and the Eastwind. While assigned to the Eastwind he went to the South Pole as part of Operation Deepfreeze 1. After making repairs in Boston he continued on to Greenland traveling to the South and North Polar Regions in 11 months. As part of his CG career he spent 4 years as an instructor at the CG Institute and 6 months at the CG Academy teaching the cadets electrical and shipboard practices and metallurgy.
The highlight of his career was when he was chosen as one of a 10-man advance team to travel to Germany to select one of 3 sail-training ships in the German navy. The Horst Wessel was taken as a war reparation to be used as a training vessel for the Coast Guard. He helped to restore the ship under adverse conditions in war torn Germany scouting for necessary parts and spares for the voyage to the United States. Ed supervised the electrical systems, which provided light and power to the ship’s generating equipment. She was re-commissioned as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle and sailed home to New London. It was his most memorable trip. He was so very proud of “his” ship and his service to the CG. He would converse about it until his memory failed. He retired from the CG in 1961 as a Chief Warrant Officer.
Edward lived in Mago Pt., Waterford for many years with his family enjoying the Niantic River and the close community there. He moved the family to Guilford in 1965 while working for Brem Co., distributors for Gamlen Chemical Co. in New Jersey. He then joined Gamlen as the Field Engineer and training instructor. In 1974 he was hired as Operations Training and Personnel Director for Wyatt Oil in New Haven. He loved his chemist lab on the water in New Haven Harbor, which was much closer to home.
In 1985 Ed and Mildred settled with his daughter and son-in-law in North Stonington and together they opened Red Wheel Antiques which they operated for many years.
Ed was a kind, humble and caring man always doing for others, ready to lend a hand. He was self-made man. Those who knew him were always amazed at his skill set. He could design, build and repair just about anything. He was the go-to man if you needed anything. He was an avid gardener, golfer, Red Sox and Celtics fan. Many of his fondest memories were traveling with his wife Mildred exploring the United States.
He was a member of the Masons, Brainard Lodge A.F. and A.M in Waterford. He was a member of the National Association of Power Engineers and served as president from 1966-1967 and also a member of the North Stonington Historical Society.
He was an amazing and loving dad, uncle, grandfather and great “Bompie” to his beloved Maci. Even when he was failing, she could bring a smile to his face. He was pre-deceased by his beloved wife of 65 years, Mildred LaPierre Lowe and his beloved children, Edward Thomas Lowe Jr. and Janice Lowe Cicirelli. He is survived by his daughter and son-in -law, Linda and Wayne Coats of North Stonington; grandsons, Adam Coats of Stonington and Justin Coats of North Stonington. Also, son-in-law and Daughter-in-law, Raymond and Margaret Cicirelli of VA; 5 grandchildren, Stephen Cicirelli (Liza)of VA, Susan Anderson (Jason) of VA, Jon Cicirelli of CA, Liz Rettenmaier-Blake (Scott) of ME and Kate Rhodes (Josh) of Washington, DC , 7 great grand children and his god-daughter, Ayn Woodruff of CA.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Edmund West for his excellent care and compassion over many years and to the VNA of SE CT for his care over the last several months.
The family will greet friend and relatives at Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, 121 Main St. Westerly, RI on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 from 4-7pm. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 10:30am at the United States Coast Guard Academy, 31 Mohegan Ave Pkwy, New London, CT. Donations in his memory may be made to the Coast Guard Foundation. For online condolences, please visit www.buckler-johnston.com
He served on the Atlantic, the Mariposa and the Eastwind. While assigned to the Eastwind he went to the South Pole as part of Operation Deepfreeze 1. After making repairs in Boston he continued on to Greenland traveling to the South and North Polar Regions in 11 months. As part of his CG career he spent 4 years as an instructor at the CG Institute and 6 months at the CG Academy teaching the cadets electrical and shipboard practices and metallurgy.
The highlight of his career was when he was chosen as one of a 10-man advance team to travel to Germany to select one of 3 sail-training ships in the German navy. The Horst Wessel was taken as a war reparation to be used as a training vessel for the Coast Guard. He helped to restore the ship under adverse conditions in war torn Germany scouting for necessary parts and spares for the voyage to the United States. Ed supervised the electrical systems, which provided light and power to the ship’s generating equipment. She was re-commissioned as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle and sailed home to New London. It was his most memorable trip. He was so very proud of “his” ship and his service to the CG. He would converse about it until his memory failed. He retired from the CG in 1961 as a Chief Warrant Officer.
Edward lived in Mago Pt., Waterford for many years with his family enjoying the Niantic River and the close community there. He moved the family to Guilford in 1965 while working for Brem Co., distributors for Gamlen Chemical Co. in New Jersey. He then joined Gamlen as the Field Engineer and training instructor. In 1974 he was hired as Operations Training and Personnel Director for Wyatt Oil in New Haven. He loved his chemist lab on the water in New Haven Harbor, which was much closer to home.
In 1985 Ed and Mildred settled with his daughter and son-in-law in North Stonington and together they opened Red Wheel Antiques which they operated for many years.
Ed was a kind, humble and caring man always doing for others, ready to lend a hand. He was self-made man. Those who knew him were always amazed at his skill set. He could design, build and repair just about anything. He was the go-to man if you needed anything. He was an avid gardener, golfer, Red Sox and Celtics fan. Many of his fondest memories were traveling with his wife Mildred exploring the United States.
He was a member of the Masons, Brainard Lodge A.F. and A.M in Waterford. He was a member of the National Association of Power Engineers and served as president from 1966-1967 and also a member of the North Stonington Historical Society.
He was an amazing and loving dad, uncle, grandfather and great “Bompie” to his beloved Maci. Even when he was failing, she could bring a smile to his face. He was pre-deceased by his beloved wife of 65 years, Mildred LaPierre Lowe and his beloved children, Edward Thomas Lowe Jr. and Janice Lowe Cicirelli. He is survived by his daughter and son-in -law, Linda and Wayne Coats of North Stonington; grandsons, Adam Coats of Stonington and Justin Coats of North Stonington. Also, son-in-law and Daughter-in-law, Raymond and Margaret Cicirelli of VA; 5 grandchildren, Stephen Cicirelli (Liza)of VA, Susan Anderson (Jason) of VA, Jon Cicirelli of CA, Liz Rettenmaier-Blake (Scott) of ME and Kate Rhodes (Josh) of Washington, DC , 7 great grand children and his god-daughter, Ayn Woodruff of CA.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Edmund West for his excellent care and compassion over many years and to the VNA of SE CT for his care over the last several months.
The family will greet friend and relatives at Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, 121 Main St. Westerly, RI on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 from 4-7pm. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 10:30am at the United States Coast Guard Academy, 31 Mohegan Ave Pkwy, New London, CT. Donations in his memory may be made to the Coast Guard Foundation. For online condolences, please visit www.buckler-johnston.com
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