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Obituaries

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Eva Lowen ’50

Following the Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938, Eva and her parents, Charles and Hedwig Reinhold, endured numerous challenges in their native Vienna. They fled to the United States in 1940, and after a brief residence in New York City—where Eva learned and mastered the English language—the Reinholds moved to Portland. In 1946, Eva enrolled in Reed, and through social acquaintances there, met and in 1950 married Gerald Lowen, a German native.

In 1962, the couple and their three children, Jeffrey, Shari, and Audrey, moved to Stockton, California, where Jerry worked for Tillie Lewis Foods. The family resided in the Central and Santa Clara valleys for the next 20 years. After retiring, Eva and Jerry returned to Portland to enjoy life with a close circle of family and friends. Jerry died unexpectedly in 1993. In the following years, Eva traveled extensively throughout the world. She volunteered as a docent at the Portland Art Museum and at a local branch of the Multnomah County Library. Throughout her adult life, she continued to cultivate her interests in foreign cultures and values, was an avid reader, and kept her mind sharp with the New York Times crossword puzzle, mah-jongg, and a passion for current events. Among her many acquaintances she was acknowledged as a warm and enthusiastic hostess, enjoying lively banter. Eva embraced a passion for social justice and supported many worthy causes. Her children, Jeffrey Lowen, Shari Lowen, and Audrey Lowen Cortez, survive her.