extraordinary people

happy trails
Doris Lowenstein: expert at service with a smile for over 16 years in College

Doris Lowenstein with longtime associate Jim Terhune (Photo by Roberto Westbrook)

The day Doris Lowenstein interviewed for a job in the Dean’s office, Dean Ralph L. Lowenstein jokingly said, “We can’t have another Lowenstein in here.”

Apparently you were wrong, Ralph. That was 1985. On May 3 Doris retires after 16½ years of service in the College. She served as executive secretary to Associate Dean James L. Terhune until moving across the hall with him to the Department of Public Relations in 1999.

The day she interviewed for the job, Doris’ car was towed by the campus police department—not a good start. And then there was that name confusion. The dean’s name was pronounced LowenSTINE and Doris was pronounced LowenSTEEN.

You think it would be obvious with the difference in pronunciations, but students still assumed the two were related.

“This student came into the office and wanted to see Dean Lowenstein,” she said. “I explained that the Dean was on vacation in England and wouldn’t be back for two weeks. So, 15 seconds later, the student came back and asked why I wasn’t with him. I told her, ‘because I don’t think his wife would have appreciated it.’”

The car towing incident also made its mark on Doris’s time at the College. It was one of the reasons she chose to work a 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. schedule. She was assured to of good parking space and was usually the first faculty or staff member to arrive in Weimer Hall.

Lowenstein said Terhune was a “great boss” and a “wonderful” person to work for. She said that after all these years, she can almost figure out what he wants before he even asks.

He returns the compliment. “Doris has great judgment. I can’t imagine any decision she would make on my behalf that I could not support,” Terhune said.

Dean Terry Hynes said, “Doris’s leaving is a great loss for us,” she said. “She’s a wonderful human being who can work with anyone, plus she is competent and cares about students and people in general. She is ‘user friendly.’ I don’t think anyone who knows Doris will forget what she’s done for us,” she said.

Working in the College has been a wonderful experience—for Doris and those worked with her.

“These years as a secretary at UF have been the best, most enjoyable years,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed being around the students. It’s kept me young.”

And the students have enjoyed being around her.

“I always looked forward to going into the PR office because Doris always had a smile on her face,” public relations senior Samantha Chapman said. “She has always looked out for the students’ best interests, and I appreciate her making my experience at UF more enjoyable.”

Dr. Juan Carlos Molleda, assistant professor of public relations, said “It will be difficult to find another person like her,” he said. “Not only because of her efficiency, but her quality of person. She has a wonderful human quality.”

In 1999, Lowenstein was honored with both the Staff Service Award for outstanding service to the College and a UF Productivity Award.

Lowenstein has been a key member of the communigator staff—assisting the editors, setting up photo shoots, verifying alumni notess—and handling the bulk mailings.

Lowenstein said she’s heading to St. Augustine Beach in May and then will spend more time with her husband, Joe, their four children and six grandchildren (whom she hasn’t seen often enough).

“If the ‘Lord’s willing, and the crick don’t rise,’ I’d like to go back to Germany and then trace Joe’s family roots in Finland,” she said.

David Payne contributed to this story.

Mary Lewis sings for others with all her heart and soul

On Christmas Day 2001, Brian and Mary Lewis were not at home enjoying a family dinner. Instead, they presented a special musical program at Gainesville's St. Francis House--for more than 150 transients who were enjoying a hot meal.

Mary has been coordinator of administrative services in the Dean's office since January 1999. In April, Mary and Brian are relocating to Virginia where she has accepted a research position with the Medical College of Virginia.

About 12 times a year they perform "Brother Duets, Heart Songs and Honky Tonk-Acoustic Music from the 1930s, 40s and 50s." Mary plays guitar, Brian (far left) plays guitar, mandolin, button accordion and steel guitar and their friend Tom Kerkoff plays bass and Dobro. (Photo by James Leslie)