Lorraine Macgowan

By all who knew her, Lorrie, was a tour de force with exceptional joie de vivre! Her mother was from Paris and Lorrie always treasured her French family heritage. Being raised in Waterville, Maine during the Great Depression helped forge her determination to succeed. Exceling in secretarial skills, she was one of Henry Kaisers personal secretaries in Oakland, California when Kaiser Industrys was building a Liberty ship per day.
In 1944, she married John Jack H. MacGowan in Alameda, California. While raising five children in Manhasset, N.Y., she was a highly respected school secretary who received her Associates degree in Liberal Arts from Adelphi University. She was a passionate supporter and cheerleader of all her childrens interests. She and Jack moved to Newport R.I. in the 1970s, becoming deeply involved in many Americas Cup campaigns and major international sailing events in which their children participated.
Retiring in North Kingstown, R.I. in the 1980s, Lorrie and Jack were instrumental in organizing CONCERN, an environment watch group. They also served as administrators and Docents forSmiths Castle, the original site of Roger Williams trading post.
Her second retirement took place in Mesa, Arizona where she continued her civic efforts growing volunteer groups for beautification projects in their golfing community.
Lorrie is preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Jack MacGowan and their daughter, Margaret MacGowan Fielding. She is survived by her children Andrew and Bertie MacGowan, Laurie Warner, Bill and Barby MacGowan, John G. and Scott MacGowan and five grandchildren Jesse Fielding, Lyle Fielding, Ryan MacGowan. Roman Greer and Heidi Niemann and six great grandchildren.
A celebration of Lorries life will be announced at a later date.