Charles Edward Lowden died peacefully Oct. 31, 2025, at the age of 92. He was born Aug. 18, 1933, in Manhattan, to the late Ann T. McMahon Lowden and Charles S. Lowden.
He moved to Jersey City at age seven. He attended Saint Paul’s Grammar School until 1947, where he began his interest in sports, playing baseball and basketball. He was a former delivery boy for the Jersey Journal, which fostered his interest in sports reporting. He attended Saint Peter’s Preparatory School, where he joined the ROTC program and earned five varsity letters in 1951 for basketball and baseball.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry in 1955 from Saint Peter’s College. He played guard on the Peacocks’ basketball team and earned five varsity letters in college. He also pitched four seasons on the baseball team. He worked 10 summer seasons at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City in various capacities – batboy, ticket taker, refreshment stand and scoreboard keeper.
Charles pitched professionally for three years – two for the Gabriel, New York Blues in the Northern League, and one year for Watertown, New York in the New York-Pennsylvania League. After this experience, he had a career-ending injury while playing on the farm team for the Chicago Cubs.
Charles’ basketball officiating interest began during high school. He became a member of the International Association of Basketball Officials (IABBO) in 1956, where he remained an active member for 54 years, particularly with Shore Board No. 194, Shore Umpires Association. At the end of his officiating career, he was certified to officiate seven sports.
He joined the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant working in intelligence after completing the ROTC program and receiving his college degree. He became fluent in German and Spanish. He was assigned to work in Germany for two years. After his return to the U.S., he attended night classes for five years to attain his Master of Business Administration from Seton Hall University in 1963.
Charles was the chairman of the New Jersey Jaycees’ Anti-Pollution, Clean Air, and Clean Water Program from 1965 to 1966. His chemistry and business education degrees laid the groundwork for his success in pigments, inks, specialty coating applications, packaging and distribution relations. He was employed by American Cyanamid, American Can, Dynamic Methods Corp., Ciba-Geigy, Dayglo Color Corp., Nicoat, Inc. and M & T Chemicals.
Charles was predeceased by his parents; his first wife Barbara Tilton Lowden; his second wife Nancy A. Buniva Lowden; sister-in-law Irene Tilton Kenney; brother-in-law George L. Tilton Jr.; and niece Barbara Lynn Kenney-Gibalski.
He is survived by daughters Deborah Lowden Donahue (James) and Gay Lowden; his sister, Lois Lowden Wright; four grandchildren, Casey Donahue, Matthew Donahue, and Hunter and Avery Wadbrook; niece Kerri Wright Kardos (Andy); nephew Kevin M. Kenney (Carol); niece Rachael Kenney; and nephew Justin Kenney.
A memorial gathering was held Nov. 10 at the John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank. A memorial Mass was held Nov. 11 at the Church of the Nativity in Fair Haven. Interment followed at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Middletown.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Saint Peter’s Prep, Saint Peter’s University or a charity of your choice.
The article originally appeared in the November 20 – 26, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
