Lowenthal Family - The Great Escape
Born, December 6, 1935, to Sabina and Adolf Lowenthal, European Jewish immigrants, Herbert Lowenthal grew up in the vibrant Bronx borough of New York City, graduating with a Bachelor and Master of Science Degree from City College. The decade after WWII found Herb deep in the heart of Texas serving in the United States Army and U.S. Air Force, and then back to New York in the Air National Guard Reserve in New York. Professionally at that time, Herb taught science and math, and thereafter founded one of the first charter travel agencies, Educational Enterprises, focused on vacation travel for teachers.
In each situation, Herb tapped a polyglot’s passion for languages, with fluidity in French, German, Yiddish, and a passable, though heavily New York-accented, Spanish. It was perhaps his endearing Spanish, eye for eternal beauty, and respect for strong women that brought Herb Lowenthal and Evelina Levy together. After a one-week whirlwind courtship, they became engaged and were married in 1965.
Nostalgic for the warmer and sunny memories of trips to Florida during his roaring 20s, Herb moved his wife Evelina, 5 year old son, Richard, 3 year old daughter, Yvette, and soon-to-be-born daughter, Francesca, to Sunset Island # 3, a lovely family-focused community in Miami Beach. It was there that Herb built a thriving hybrid charter and retail travel business. For over 35 years, the Great Escape travel agency enabled Herbert to traverse the world designing unique trips for professionals. Mining the family and the store back home, his wife, Evelina, served as his rock, life preserver, and forever love.
Herb loved life, traveling, taking his children on mystery trips, playing tennis with his friends, and taking his grandchildren for ice cream. He lit up a room and remembered everyone’s name. Herb was honest, genuine, and magnanimous with strangers and friends alike.
In a final act of generosity and courage, Herb donated his brain to the University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank. The donation was driven by his own struggles with Bipolar and Major Depressive Disorder with the heartful goal of ending the stigma of and finding a cure for mental illness.
Herb’s children have expressed tremendous gratitude to the Brain Endowment Bank team for guiding them through the donation process as it gave them great comfort knowing their father’s last wishes were realized.
On this most mysterious of Great Escapes, we wish him the fondest Bon Voyage!