By Jerry Vondas
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Whether moving the basketball down the court or managing his own company, Jay Lowery was respected for his quick and correct decisions, a talent that led to his nickname as "The Commissioner."
"It all began when Dad was working for U.S. Steel and would play basketball at the Downtown YMCA," said his son, Alex Lowery. "If there was an argument on the court, he would be the one asked to make the decision."
Jay Willis Lowery, of McCandless, died on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007, at UPMC Passavant hospital, McCandless. He was 71.
"Dad played basketball at the Downtown YMCA for 15 years," his son said. "When he left U.S. Steel and started his own company, he founded the lunchtime basketball games and played for another 30 years at the North Hills YMCA.
"He also played basketball at the Hiland Presbyterian Church (in Ross) until he was 68."
Born and raised in Bellevue, Mr. Lowery was one of three children of Willis and Marie Fernbach Lowery.
In 1953, following graduation from West View High School, where he played basketball, Mr. Lowery entered Duquesne University, receiving his undergraduate degree in chemistry in 1957.
It was while employed at the former Pittsburgh Coke and Chemical Co. on Neville Island that he earned his MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.
In 1961, he met and married Eleanor Louise Bodziak, of Neville Island, who worked as her husband's bookkeeper when in 1969 he founded Pittsburgh Coatings, one of the largest structural steel sandblasting and painting companies on the East Coast.
His plant in Ambridge, Beaver County, prepared the steel that went into the repair of the World Trade Center in New York City after it was damaged by a terrorist bomb in 1993.
Mr. Lowery also founded Wise Chemical, a supplier of safety coatings to the aluminum industry.
"Although Dad was committed to his companies, employees and customers, it was the time that he spent with his family and now with his grandchildren that brought him the most satisfaction," said Alex Lowery.
"He took pride in attending all of the sports events of his grandsons, Dylan and Josh. And the first question he'd ask when it came to his granddaughters was, 'How is Rachel and how is Piper?' "
Mr. Lowery is survived by his wife, Eleanor Louise Bodziak Lowery; four sons, Eric Lowery, of Taipei, Taiwan; Lincoln Lowery, of Squirrel Hill; Scott Lowery, of Pine, and Alex Lowery, of West View; four grandchildren; and a brother, Mark Schultz, of Cosby, Tenn.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Linda Plowman.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Hiland Presbyterian Church, Ross, with burial in the church cemetery.
Arrangements are being handled by the H.P. Brandt Funeral Home Inc., Ross."
****************************************
THANK YOU to Lincoln Lowery, son of Jay Willis Lowery, for sending me his father's obituary.
___________
After my father died, I did extensive genealogical work, including DNA testing. Three of my grandparents' were confirmed, but the fourth, my father's father, appeared not to be J. Willis Dalzell Lowery. I then discovered a man who seemed like a good fit (Fredd J. Durner). Further DNA testing confirmed he was my father's actual father, and hence my grandfather.
J. Willis Dalzell Lowery & Marie Fernbach did not have three children. They had one (Linda). The other children referred to are a child of Marie Fernbach Lowery & Charles Henry Shultz (Mark) & of Marie Fernbach Lowery & Fred J. Durner (Jay).
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Whether moving the basketball down the court or managing his own company, Jay Lowery was respected for his quick and correct decisions, a talent that led to his nickname as "The Commissioner."
"It all began when Dad was working for U.S. Steel and would play basketball at the Downtown YMCA," said his son, Alex Lowery. "If there was an argument on the court, he would be the one asked to make the decision."
Jay Willis Lowery, of McCandless, died on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007, at UPMC Passavant hospital, McCandless. He was 71.
"Dad played basketball at the Downtown YMCA for 15 years," his son said. "When he left U.S. Steel and started his own company, he founded the lunchtime basketball games and played for another 30 years at the North Hills YMCA.
"He also played basketball at the Hiland Presbyterian Church (in Ross) until he was 68."
Born and raised in Bellevue, Mr. Lowery was one of three children of Willis and Marie Fernbach Lowery.
In 1953, following graduation from West View High School, where he played basketball, Mr. Lowery entered Duquesne University, receiving his undergraduate degree in chemistry in 1957.
It was while employed at the former Pittsburgh Coke and Chemical Co. on Neville Island that he earned his MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.
In 1961, he met and married Eleanor Louise Bodziak, of Neville Island, who worked as her husband's bookkeeper when in 1969 he founded Pittsburgh Coatings, one of the largest structural steel sandblasting and painting companies on the East Coast.
His plant in Ambridge, Beaver County, prepared the steel that went into the repair of the World Trade Center in New York City after it was damaged by a terrorist bomb in 1993.
Mr. Lowery also founded Wise Chemical, a supplier of safety coatings to the aluminum industry.
"Although Dad was committed to his companies, employees and customers, it was the time that he spent with his family and now with his grandchildren that brought him the most satisfaction," said Alex Lowery.
"He took pride in attending all of the sports events of his grandsons, Dylan and Josh. And the first question he'd ask when it came to his granddaughters was, 'How is Rachel and how is Piper?' "
Mr. Lowery is survived by his wife, Eleanor Louise Bodziak Lowery; four sons, Eric Lowery, of Taipei, Taiwan; Lincoln Lowery, of Squirrel Hill; Scott Lowery, of Pine, and Alex Lowery, of West View; four grandchildren; and a brother, Mark Schultz, of Cosby, Tenn.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Linda Plowman.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Hiland Presbyterian Church, Ross, with burial in the church cemetery.
Arrangements are being handled by the H.P. Brandt Funeral Home Inc., Ross."
****************************************
THANK YOU to Lincoln Lowery, son of Jay Willis Lowery, for sending me his father's obituary.
___________
After my father died, I did extensive genealogical work, including DNA testing. Three of my grandparents' were confirmed, but the fourth, my father's father, appeared not to be J. Willis Dalzell Lowery. I then discovered a man who seemed like a good fit (Fredd J. Durner). Further DNA testing confirmed he was my father's actual father, and hence my grandfather.
J. Willis Dalzell Lowery & Marie Fernbach did not have three children. They had one (Linda). The other children referred to are a child of Marie Fernbach Lowery & Charles Henry Shultz (Mark) & of Marie Fernbach Lowery & Fred J. Durner (Jay).
By Jerry Vondas
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Whether moving the basketball down the court or managing his own company, Jay Lowery was respected for his quick and correct decisions, a talent that led to his nickname as "The Commissioner."
"It all began when Dad was working for U.S. Steel and would play basketball at the Downtown YMCA," said his son, Alex Lowery. "If there was an argument on the court, he would be the one asked to make the decision."
Jay Willis Lowery, of McCandless, died on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007, at UPMC Passavant hospital, McCandless. He was 71.
"Dad played basketball at the Downtown YMCA for 15 years," his son said. "When he left U.S. Steel and started his own company, he founded the lunchtime basketball games and played for another 30 years at the North Hills YMCA.
"He also played basketball at the Hiland Presbyterian Church (in Ross) until he was 68."
Born and raised in Bellevue, Mr. Lowery was one of three children of Willis and Marie Fernbach Lowery.
In 1953, following graduation from West View High School, where he played basketball, Mr. Lowery entered Duquesne University, receiving his undergraduate degree in chemistry in 1957.
It was while employed at the former Pittsburgh Coke and Chemical Co. on Neville Island that he earned his MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.
In 1961, he met and married Eleanor Louise Bodziak, of Neville Island, who worked as her husband's bookkeeper when in 1969 he founded Pittsburgh Coatings, one of the largest structural steel sandblasting and painting companies on the East Coast.
His plant in Ambridge, Beaver County, prepared the steel that went into the repair of the World Trade Center in New York City after it was damaged by a terrorist bomb in 1993.
Mr. Lowery also founded Wise Chemical, a supplier of safety coatings to the aluminum industry.
"Although Dad was committed to his companies, employees and customers, it was the time that he spent with his family and now with his grandchildren that brought him the most satisfaction," said Alex Lowery.
"He took pride in attending all of the sports events of his grandsons, Dylan and Josh. And the first question he'd ask when it came to his granddaughters was, 'How is Rachel and how is Piper?' "
Mr. Lowery is survived by his wife, Eleanor Louise Bodziak Lowery; four sons, Eric Lowery, of Taipei, Taiwan; Lincoln Lowery, of Squirrel Hill; Scott Lowery, of Pine, and Alex Lowery, of West View; four grandchildren; and a brother, Mark Schultz, of Cosby, Tenn.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Linda Plowman.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Hiland Presbyterian Church, Ross, with burial in the church cemetery.
Arrangements are being handled by the H.P. Brandt Funeral Home Inc., Ross."
****************************************
THANK YOU to Lincoln Lowery, son of Jay Willis Lowery, for sending me his father's obituary.
___________
After my father died, I did extensive genealogical work, including DNA testing. Three of my grandparents' were confirmed, but the fourth, my father's father, appeared not to be J. Willis Dalzell Lowery. I then discovered a man who seemed like a good fit (Fredd J. Durner). Further DNA testing confirmed he was my father's actual father, and hence my grandfather.
J. Willis Dalzell Lowery & Marie Fernbach did not have three children. They had one (Linda). The other children referred to are a child of Marie Fernbach Lowery & Charles Henry Shultz (Mark) & of Marie Fernbach Lowery & Fred J. Durner (Jay).
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Whether moving the basketball down the court or managing his own company, Jay Lowery was respected for his quick and correct decisions, a talent that led to his nickname as "The Commissioner."
"It all began when Dad was working for U.S. Steel and would play basketball at the Downtown YMCA," said his son, Alex Lowery. "If there was an argument on the court, he would be the one asked to make the decision."
Jay Willis Lowery, of McCandless, died on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007, at UPMC Passavant hospital, McCandless. He was 71.
"Dad played basketball at the Downtown YMCA for 15 years," his son said. "When he left U.S. Steel and started his own company, he founded the lunchtime basketball games and played for another 30 years at the North Hills YMCA.
"He also played basketball at the Hiland Presbyterian Church (in Ross) until he was 68."
Born and raised in Bellevue, Mr. Lowery was one of three children of Willis and Marie Fernbach Lowery.
In 1953, following graduation from West View High School, where he played basketball, Mr. Lowery entered Duquesne University, receiving his undergraduate degree in chemistry in 1957.
It was while employed at the former Pittsburgh Coke and Chemical Co. on Neville Island that he earned his MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.
In 1961, he met and married Eleanor Louise Bodziak, of Neville Island, who worked as her husband's bookkeeper when in 1969 he founded Pittsburgh Coatings, one of the largest structural steel sandblasting and painting companies on the East Coast.
His plant in Ambridge, Beaver County, prepared the steel that went into the repair of the World Trade Center in New York City after it was damaged by a terrorist bomb in 1993.
Mr. Lowery also founded Wise Chemical, a supplier of safety coatings to the aluminum industry.
"Although Dad was committed to his companies, employees and customers, it was the time that he spent with his family and now with his grandchildren that brought him the most satisfaction," said Alex Lowery.
"He took pride in attending all of the sports events of his grandsons, Dylan and Josh. And the first question he'd ask when it came to his granddaughters was, 'How is Rachel and how is Piper?' "
Mr. Lowery is survived by his wife, Eleanor Louise Bodziak Lowery; four sons, Eric Lowery, of Taipei, Taiwan; Lincoln Lowery, of Squirrel Hill; Scott Lowery, of Pine, and Alex Lowery, of West View; four grandchildren; and a brother, Mark Schultz, of Cosby, Tenn.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Linda Plowman.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Hiland Presbyterian Church, Ross, with burial in the church cemetery.
Arrangements are being handled by the H.P. Brandt Funeral Home Inc., Ross."
****************************************
THANK YOU to Lincoln Lowery, son of Jay Willis Lowery, for sending me his father's obituary.
___________
After my father died, I did extensive genealogical work, including DNA testing. Three of my grandparents' were confirmed, but the fourth, my father's father, appeared not to be J. Willis Dalzell Lowery. I then discovered a man who seemed like a good fit (Fredd J. Durner). Further DNA testing confirmed he was my father's actual father, and hence my grandfather.
J. Willis Dalzell Lowery & Marie Fernbach did not have three children. They had one (Linda). The other children referred to are a child of Marie Fernbach Lowery & Charles Henry Shultz (Mark) & of Marie Fernbach Lowery & Fred J. Durner (Jay).
