Chris Werner, Eli Kaberone, Becky and Libby Shafer & Allison Loeppert

Mr. Lowe,

By Chris Werner 2018-19 Sports Editor

Your teaching style was, how shall I say this, unique. Whether it be the competitive current events quizzes that were supposed to happen weekly, but really occurred only about once a month or the cringy transitions on your powerpoints, you had your own system. But, boy, did you know your stuff and care about your students. You weren’t afraid to shoot down a story pitch you didn’t like, but you also weren’t afraid to fight for your students when need be. If you thought something was wrong, you worked tirelessly to make it right. That tenacity and determination may be the biggest lesson you taught me, don’t be scared to get dirty for what you think is right. But to not get dirty in heaven, don’t forget to bring your boots!

Sincerely, Chris Werner From left: Werner, Lowe and Cameron Mulvihill, 2018-19 Entertainment Reviewer, at a 2019 IHSA event. ‘There aren’t very ‘He understood the importance of personal many Mr. Lowes relationships with out there’ teachers in shaping students’ growth’ By Eli Kaberone activity, but a second home for so ism. He would ask for copies of 2004-05 Sports Editor many on staff. articles so that he could share By Becky, Libby Shafer jokes. He taught us to get to the And that empowerment he prothem with students who were in Students, Classes of 2005, 2009 bottom of every story and to do Every student should be so vided didn’t stop when you were his class, or if you were local, so with integrity. Perhaps most lucky to have a teacher like Mr. no longer in Mr. Lowe’s class or have you come in to speak to Our memories of Mr. Lowe are importantly, he understood the Lowe. Unfortunately, very few working on the paper. He was a students about what a career in similar, even though, as sisters, importance of personal relationdo, because there journalism was we worked on The Evanstonian ships with teachers in shaping aren’t very many like. He was infour years apart. He made the students’ writing and growth. We Mr. Lowes out credibly proud of newspaper’s office into a place are lucky to have had such a forthere. He had the the awards and where everyone felt welcome and mative teacher in our lives. unique ability championships supported. We remember spendto empower his the paper won, ing our free periods there, talking students. It came but I think his with him about ideas for articles first from his love greatest thrill was and, as we pushed toward deadof the subject he seeing how many lines, listening to his stories and taught: journalism. Like any of his students followed him into ‘Rodney also good journalist, the career of jourMr. Lowe would show his students nalism. I am so lucky inspired his students the way things to have had Mr. should be done instead of telling Lowe as a teacher, a mentor and to be true to them. That meant as a friend. He when it was time for us to interwas the perfect example of themselves’ view an administrator or layout a page or edit a headline, we had the confidence to do so. He gave students free rein of the Evanstonian office (and other parts of the school back when the paper was laid out on Sundays), making the paper not only an extracurricular huge supporter of so many alums who pursued careers in journalworking hard and doing what you love. His smile and laugh were one-of-a-kind, as was his ability to empower his students to be the best they can be. He will be incredibly missed. By Allison Loeppert Colleague Rodney was so much more than a teacher of journalism. He devoted his professional life to the pursuit of truth and inquiry — creating not just future writers, but critical thinkers who adhered to the most important, ethical standards in journalism. But beyond the subject matter, Rodney also inspired his students to be true to themselves, to question the world around them and to work together as a team to produce an award-winning publication. He was one of kind, and is missed by his many fans and former students across the country and around the world.

Mr. Lowe,

On behalf of the thousands of students who walked through the doors of S105 and had the honor of knowing you, thank you for a lifetime of kindness, wisdom and inspiration.