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A Dear Friend Passes by Jennifer Hafer
Only a man as accomplished as Larry Lowenstein could get away with calling his memoirs, “Famous People Who Have Known Me.” At Kennesaw State University, however, Lowenstein was famous in his own right, helping to organize exhibitions, creating and producing a television show to promote the university and teaching a popular class on how to write a book and get it published. He and his wife of 33 years, Joyce, were also fixtures on the university’s art scene, regularly attending theater productions, concerts and art exhibitions. Lowenstein, 86, died of a heart attack Oct. 3. "Larry Lowenstein was an incredibly energetic person with an irrepressible enthusiasm for life,” Dean Joseph Meeks said. “He was a personal friend of mine and a wonderful supporter of the arts. We will miss him." Lowenstein joined Continuing Education at Kennesaw State University in 1992 and handled special projects for President Emeritus Betty L. Siegel. In his post-retirement position at the university, he helped organize the 1996 Mark Twain exhibition, created and produced “Meet the President” for Cobb’s Channel 23 and taught a popular class, “Write a Book and Get It Published.” “He was such a cheerleader for all of us,” Continuing Education Dean Barbara Calhoun said. “He loved the university. He gave us greater exposure to the community.” Lowenstein began his public relations career in the infancy of the industry, when publicists were known as press agents, and among his clients were some of the biggest names in show business: Elizabeth Taylor, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Arthur Godfrey and Benny Goodman. He was the first press agent for Crest toothpaste and Zest soap, too. One of Lowenstein’s favorite tales from Hollywood was the time Elizabeth Taylor threw him out of her honeymoon suite. He also once served bourbon to Roy Rogers in a teacup to preserve his public image. These are but a few of the highlights of Larry Lowenstein’s colorful life. |
Friends remember Larry Lowenstein
By Cheryl Anderson Brown
Friends of the irrepressible Larry Lowenstein gathered outside of the Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center on Nov. 30 to dedicate a tree in his memory. Lowenstein, who passed away in October 2006, had been part of the Kennesaw State University family for nearly 15 years following a very successful career in "show business" as a press agent. He worked in the university's Division of Continuing Education but he was well-known across the campus.
Lowenstein and his wife of 33 years, Joyce, were also devoted arts supporters.
At the brief ceremony, KSU Arts Dean Joseph Meeks and Continuing Education Dean Barbara Calhoun offered amusing stories about Lowenstein. Then, his friend, Steve Newfield shared his memories of breakfasting weekly with him and other friends at Goldberg's.
"We made it our policy that you had to pay your $12 every week, whether you came or not," Newfield said. Then, he pulled out an envelope and explained that it had been given to him that very morning at Goldberg's. Inside was $12.
Handing the money to Joyce Lowenstein, Newfield laughed. "It was a lot harder to get the money from him when he was alive!"
Dean Calhoun then invited the crowd to encircle the tree holding hands to pass a hand squeeze from one person to the next until it reached Mrs. Lowenstein.