Howard J. Low
October 10, 1942 October 10, 2021
Howard Jeong Low passed away peacefully on his 79th birthday following complications resulting from heart surgery. He was surrounded by his loving family: wife Dorinne; sons Christian, Ryan (with wife Panner) and Todd; and grandson Santino Low. He also leaves behind his cherished granddaughters Nina and Simone Low; devoted sisters Mary Kong, Anna Low, and Laura Yau; and many loving nieces and nephews.
In 1963 Howard met Dorinne Chu, and they married in 1967. They started their family in the 1970s with the births of Christian, Ryan, and Todd, and in 1971 they moved from San Francisco to Mill Valley. His family was the center of his life. His greatest joy was to celebrate family events and holidays at their Mill Valley home and to spend summers together in Honolulu, a family tradition for the past 25 years. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Howard and Dorinne were blessed with grandchildren Santino, Nina, and Simone.
In 1964 Howard began as an interior space planner for Bank of America. He was proud to be part of the planning of the Bank’s world headquarters on California Street, then the tallest building in San Francisco. In 1974 Howard began work at Bechtel Corporation, remaining at Bechtel until his retirement in 2017. During his four decades of employment, he was the Facilities Group Senior Planner and later became the Groups Manager. Over time his responsibilities expanded to include corporate Aircraft Operations, S.F. Fleet Operations, and Special Properties Management. During this time, working a full-time job and raising three sons, he managed to receive a degree in Business Administration from St. Mary’s College in Moraga.
Howard enjoyed traveling and made several trips over the decades to Europe and Asia. His idea of a perfect end
to the day in Europe was to sit at a café with a glass of wine, soaking in the ambience of life going by.
Howard was a tennis enthusiast, a love he shared with his son Ryan. He spent many decades playing weekly at the Scott Valley Tennis Club and more recently at the Harbor Bay Tennis Club. In retirement, Howard became hooked on playing golf. He looked forward to his Friday golf group at McGinnis Park, both for the game, but even more for the camaraderie with the group. He also liked nothing better than to play on Bay Area courses with his two sons, Christian and Todd. Another lifelong passion was cars and racing, and this he shared with all three sons.
Howard was a kind and gracious man with a deep inner strength, a great sense of humor, and a natural refinement. He was his family’s compass and heart, a true gentleman and a gentle soul. Rest in peace, dearly beloved Howard. Our love is with you always.
There will be a Celebration of Howard’s life on November 15, 2021 at The San Francisco Yacht Club in Belvedere, CA from 1-4 p.m. Covid protocols will be observed. In lieu of flowers, a contribution in his name to KQED, the Marin Food Bank, or to a charity of your
choice, would be greatly appreciated.