Hollis Jackson Lowe Jr. of Highlands passed away peacefully Sept. 15 in Red Bank, surrounded by loved ones. He was born Sept. 17, 1942, in East Orange, son of Margaret Sinnott and Hollis Jackson Lowe. He attended school in Rumson, in addition to Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia. Upon graduation in 1960, Jack became a sports writer for the Red Bank Register, a job he loved, working alongside his stepfather “Hy Spotting Sports” Hyatt E. Cunningham, the Register’s sports editor and photographer.
His days were spent with his friends, brothers and beloved mother, surfing and enjoying his 1963 Corvette Stingray, the first one in Monmouth County. He lived in Sea Bright at the Peninsula House Beach Club and then in Monmouth Beach with buddies John Rodgers and Bobby Waldron, having some crazy experiences being the Kahunas at the beach and playing football with the Bayshore Redwings.
Jack met Clayton and they married in 1967; Derek and Courtney were born one and three years later. He began working at an auto parts distribution center, the foundation for his career in auto parts/battery sales and management. Ultimately, he and family relocated to California in 1973 for work.
Life in California was filled with exceptional friendships and memorable adventures, with the family traveling extensively. There were multiple trips to Hawaii, the Caribbean, Europe and South America, where Jack enjoyed scuba diving. He was a devoted father and enjoyed cheering on Derek at his cross country and track meets and Courtney at her swim meets.
He enjoyed playing tennis and racquet ball, photography and watching track & field and NHRA.
Moving back to New Jersey in 2001, Jack continued to live life large with travel and adventure, living part time in Colorado with friend Joanne, returning to the ski slopes and tennis court, purchasing a motor home (“coach”) and traveling with partner Julie all over the country and into Canada, including stops at multiple boat racing events with brother Bruce and his speed skiff the Lowe Blow. He became friends with many incredible people in the boat racing and Jersey speed skiff community and purchased a skiff of his own, the Jo-Carol Too.
He loved his “coach,” speed skiff, and CraigCat Jack’s Folly – a bench seat on two surfboards with an engine! Throughout it all, he loved stopping in at brother Chick’s Carriage House Marina in Sea Bright, a hub for the Lowe/Cunningham families.
He was a proud grandfather and said on multiple occasions, “I’m the luckiest man on the planet.” His family and friends were blessed to have been graced by his presence. Jack was caring and smart, fun to be around, loved by all, handsome inside and out and known for his kindness and exceptional story telling.
We miss Jack so very much, but we celebrate his life well lived, and we will move forward with him in our hearts, while remembering his million-watt smile and beautiful blue eyes.
Jack is survived by his former wife, a forever friend and loving supporter, Ann Clayton Lowe, of Newburyport, Massachusetts; son Derek Thomas Lowe of Newington, Connecticut; daughter Kathryn Courtney Luck of Newburyport; brothers Bruce David Lowe of Locust and Charles Lance Cunningham of Sea Bright; four grandchildren; multiple loving nieces and nephews; and his significant other Julie Rodgers of Highlands. He was preceded in death by his younger brother, Hyatt Cunningham.
Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank was entrusted with the arrangements and a Celebration of Life is planned for 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Carriage House Marina, 1200 Ocean Ave., Sea Bright. Donations can be made in Jack’s honor to Swim Across America.
The article originally appeared in the September 22 – 28, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
