Paul Shafer Lowry

Paul S. Lowry passed peacefully away February 1st.  A partner at KMPG, he devoted himself to his work, overcoming serious health problems to pursue excellence in his field. 

Mr. Lowry was born in Albuquerque, NM and grew up in Norman, Oklahoma, the son of Anne D. Lowry and William H. Lowry.  After graduating from Norman High School (’69) as a National Merit Scholar, he graduated from Williams College with a political science degree and from Yale Law School (’76).  Between college years, he spent a summer as an intern for Credit Lyonnaise polishing his French language skills.  Prior to joining KMPG, he was employed at Bank of Boston while studying to become a CPA.

Paul was a relentless collector of things that interested him.  As a boy he collected coins and stamps and when vacationing with his family in Colorado, boxed, labeled and categorized a collection of rocks and minerals.  A bassoonist with a love of classical music, he had many albums in that genre.  Later, as a young man living and working in the Boston area, Paul roamed flea markets and antique shows looking for Depression glass and china. These interests were pursued vigorously at those rare times when he was not working late hours developing his skills as a tax attorney.  A lifelong love of plants was formed at an early age, and he became an accomplished gardener with an amazing knowledge and appreciation of perennials, shrubs, and trees with an aptitude for creating landscapes in harmony with their spaces.  On Sundays he could be found at the Arnold Arboretum with his brother, wandering the paths, studying the specimens.

Sadly, in 1988 he contracted a virus that triggered an autoimmune response that could not be repressed by his doctors.  His physical disabilities were severe, and would become progressively debilitating over a more than three decade period.  He threw himself entirely into work, where he unfailingly demonstrated his loyalty, integrity, intelligence and worth.  He was consistently kind and gentle to everyone he encountered, taking a keen interest in their lives and families and conversing at length on all manner of topics.  Both the colleagues with whom he worked and the clients he worked for, maintained their allegiance to him, and respect for his work and service, even as his physical health declined.

Paul made a life for himself that was meaningful.  He will be greatly missed by his circle of family and friends, co-workers and clients who know what a remarkable person he was.

Mr. Lowry is survived by his sister, Margaret Lowry, her husband, Bradley Steele, their children, Peter Steele, and Laura Steele, of Winchester and Somerville, and his longtime caregiver, Edelmira Figueroa and her family.

Due to the pandemic, a memorial service will be held at a later date.  He will be interred in Belmont Cemetery. 

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