Marcus Campbell & obituary

2

‘Mr. Lowe was a man of deep conviction and deep wisdom’

By Marcus Campbell

Colleague For nearly 20 years I have had a friendship with Rodney Lowe, and over the course of those years we talked, we laughed and we cried. We talked about our families, our faith and, of course, ETHS. At one point in time, we were the only Black men teaching in the English department, and as a young Black male just beginning my teaching career, Mr. Lowe would share his experiences with race at ETHS and what I could expect. Rodney Lowe made a profound impact on me, the English department, ETHS and the Evanston community. His journalism classes spanned over 30 years and inspired a c o u n t l e s s number of j o u r n a l i s t s who write and work all over the world. Some of Mr. Lowe’s former students are currently on ESPN, write for the New York Times, are investigative journalists who have written several books, are on the local news in Chicago and some are still in college majoring in journalism; they trace their love and initial training back to Mr. Lowe’s classroom. He has made an imprint on the field of journalism that will resonate for the ages. Mr. Lowe was a man of deep conviction and deep wisdom, I am blessed to have been able to benefit from his life

and lessons. I will miss his sense of humor, his precision and dedication to journalistic excellence and his love and commitment to the students of Evanston Township High School.

Table of Contents

Rodney Lowe

NORTHWEST INDIANA — Rodney Kevin Lowe, 61, originally of Gary, Indiana, passed away on the morning of Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at his home in Michigan City, IN. A 1976 graduate of West Side High School, then Valparaiso University (class of 1980), and finally Indiana University (class of 1990), he taught Journalism at Evanston Township High School in Evanston, IL for 31 years. The “Man Behind the Paper,” Rodney guided many young writers over the decades as faculty adviser for The Evanstonian, the award-winning high school newspaper. Rodney is survived by his beloved Mother, Sarah Ann Lowe, Sister, Deirdre Ann Lowe of Michigan City, IN, Brothers, Anthony Derrick Lowe of Oakland, CA and Silas Dwayne Ali of Chicago, IL and Niece SeQuanna Hatch. In addition, he has touched a host of friends, colleagues, and students in the field of education and journalism alike. He is predeceased by the late Abdur Rahman Ali [Ermine Reeves Lowe Sr.] his father and Ermine Reeves Lowe Jr. his brother.

By the Lowe family

Marcus Campbell & obituary...............................................................................................2 Patti Minegishi Delacruz & colleagues.......................................................................................3 The man who brought The Evanstonian to life: Jonah Charlton & Eli Cohen..................4-5 A Letter to Lowe: Trinity Collins...................................................................................................6 Sara Young & colleagues.........................................................................................................7 Lowe’s Last Class..........................................................................................................................8-11 Harrison Witt......................................................................................................................................8 Rodney Lowe, Superhero: Michael Colton................................................................................8-9 Katy Donati & Matthew Barbato..................................................................................................10 Carrington “Onyx” York...............................................................................................................10-11 Margo Levitan...................................................................................................................................11 Rachel Krumholz, Mac Stone & Sofie Kennedy.......................................................................12 Sarah Frieman, Marc Zarefsky, Malcolm Townsel & Sophie Monzo.........................................13 Samantha Idler, Liz Hartley & David Colton..............................................................................14 Chris Werner, Eli Kaberone, Becky and Libby Shafer & Allison Loeppert.............................15