James Hale Lowell, 2nd

James Hale Lowell 2nd, born November 27,1937, loving husband of Susan Lowell (Walsh) for 31 years, passed away peacefully on March 17th. The youngest of seven children of Ralph and Charlotte L. (Loring) Lowell, he was predeceased by siblings Charlotte, John, Ralph Jr., Mary Emlen, and Susan, and leaves his living sister Lucy.

Leaping into the role of playful uncle for a bevy of nieces and nephews, Lowell raised a family with his first wife, Anne O. Lowell (Bangs); James, David, Susan, and Abbott, becoming a supportive father-in-law to Terri, Linda, and Carla, and beloved grandfather to Jennifer, Charles, Rachel, Sarah, Charlotte, and Eaton. He was also stepfather to Susan’s son Stephen and Marie, and grandfather to Katie (Rupert and their son Marshall), Ian, Rafe, and Lauren.

A graduate of Dedham Country Day and Noble and Greenough, Lowell earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard College (Class of 1959) where he majored in U.S. History, a source of abiding interest.

Stoical in many aspects of his professional life, Lowell harbored a mirthful, mischievous spirit that may have been result of being bitten by a wood sprite, laughing with his lifelong college roommates and friends at the absurdities of pomp and circumstance.

Lowell never shied away from nor rested on his numerous laurels. Whether in the heart of Boston’s business community or in the wilds of Baxter State Park, Lowell was a tireless worker who strove to make meaningful inroads in socially responsible investing for his clients and the broader community. Weekends found him foresting his family’s 100-acre woods, felling trees and clearing brambled understories so that the light could let new growth shine forth.

He began his career one leaf at a time; rising through the ranks at Scudder, Stevens & Clark, and Brown Brothers Harriman, before taking the road less travelled and launching his noteworthy investment company which became known as Lowell, Blake & Associates. 

A former Selectman of the Town of Westwood, former Vice President of The United Way, camper-to-board member at Chewonki, a Mason with the Lodge of St. Andrew, and a noble member of the Shriners, and active participant and/or trustee of numerous charitable organizations.

As at home in a crowded mahogany board room as he was paddling a canoe in the wilds of Maine, Lowell was a devoted family man and businessperson, combining the best of both worlds to deliver a multitude of significant and happy returns on his timely investments—taking quiet pride in achieving heights the ilk of self-promoters would simply crow about.

And he knew the answer to the question of a tree falling in a forest: donating a conservation easement protecting 6,730 acres around Robinson Peak from Lowell Blake & Associates, Lowell said, “you can make a profit from forest land investments while still managing the trees in a sustainable manner and protecting the land for the long-term.” 

All services will be private at the family’s request.

Please send charitable donations in James’s memory to:

Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center: https://jeannegeigercrisiscenter.org

The Chewonki Foundation: https://chewonki.org