- November 16, 2025
Ormond Beach philanthropist and businessman Lowell Lohman could command a room with a single phrase.
The setting didn't matter. He could be in a room full of community leaders or in his living room overlooking the Halifax River among his dearest friends. When he wanted the floor, all Lowell ever had to do was raise his hands and ask, "Can I make an observation?"
"The whole place would be quiet," said his wife, Nancy Lohman. "It was like, 'The Lowell' is going to share now."
That's what his friends jokingly called him, she said. When Lowell called their attention like this, they knew he would say something profound — words that would make an impact.
"He had a presence that when he walked into the room, you could just feel it," said his son, Ty Lohman. "Everybody else could feel it."
He always knew who needed to be recognized, and how to recognize them, Nancy added.
Lowell died at 80 years old on Oct. 28, spending his lifetime building businesses, supporting nonprofits and championing causes for his three biggest passions — diabetes research, animal welfare and teaching the next generation to love science.
"Lowell had the most beautiful blend of power and warmth," Nancy said.
Lowell was born in Vero Beach, Florida, on Feb. 16, 1945. While a student at Vero Beach High School, Lowell was captain and quarterback of the football team. Baseball also had a big presence in his life back then; Lowell set a school record for his batting average of .509, and was the team pitcher. He was also voted "Most Athletic" by his senior class.
He attended Florida State University on a baseball scholarship, serving as captain of team. Voted "Most Valuable Player," he set another record — this time, an FSU record for striking out 19 batters in one game.
Baseball took a backseat when his first son Brian was born. Then Ty. Now a family man, Lowell worked two jobs to be able to support them and be able to take classes at FSU, where decided to major in biology and chemistry.
One of the jobs was at the Hertz rental car location at the Tallahassee airport. It was there that Lowell met a businessman who would set his life on an entrepreneurial path: Forbes Davis, of Davis Industries, a water and sewer treatment plant construction company. Davis hired Lowell because of his science major at FSU.
Prior to this, Lowell had been considering a career teaching high school biology and coaching baseball and football, according to his book, "The Lohman Way," by E.L. Wilks.
The job with Davis Industries led Lowell to Sarasota, and in 1973, he started his first business in the water and sewer industry.
He then moved back to his hometown, where he was inspired to go into the cemetery industry. His stepfather had worked in the business, and had recently retired but shared with Lowell and his brother Victor that it was a fulfilling career.
So in 1977, Lowell and Victor moved to Ormond Beach and purchased their first cemetery, Volusia Memorial Park.
"They became legendary cemeterians from that point on," Nancy said.
Lowell and Nancy opened Lohman Funeral Home Ormond in 1998, continuing to operate it as a family-owned business until 2012.
From 1977 to 2012, the Lohmans owned and operated 34 cemeteries and funeral homes. They were the largest private owners of cemeteries and funeral homes in the state.
Lowell would own a total of 64 separate companies in his life, totaling over $250 million in value. He and his son Ty also came to own over 4,000 apartments.
But his greatest satisfaction was finding Nancy, said Susan Persis, longtime family friend and former Ormond Beach City Commissioner.
"He was most proud of her," Persis said. "No doubt in my mind, he loved her as much as anybody can love anybody."
The day was Aug. 24, 1990.
Lowell was in Atlanta, Georgia, in the midst of purchasing a new cemetery, and after a business meeting, he went to a piano lounge called Otto's in the Buckhead district. He was sitting at the bar when he saw Nancy for the first time.
"It didn't take us long to figure out that we were meant for each other," Nancy said.
She remembers thinking Lowell had amazing charisma, that he was full of life and positivity. As she got to know him better, she fell in love with his ambition, drive, and dedication to excellence, Nancy said.
"It was inspiring, and I never thought I would get married," she said. "I always thought, 'I'm never compromising. I'm never going to settle.' ... But boy, he swept me off my feet."
Ty said his father and Nancy had a "fairytale" love, and that he wished everybody could experience what the two had.
"He would always say, 'Hey boys, no reason looking for Cinderella, I already married her,'" Ty said.
They married on Oct. 10, 1991. This year, they celebrated 34 years of marriage.
Whenever Lowell wanted something done, he'd turn to look at Nancy, Susan Persis said.
"There's no question that he was happy and it was because Nancy kept him happy," she said. "Nancy was the key."
He always had a loving word for her, added Carl Persis, former Ormond Beach mayor and family friend.
"They were just a phenomenal team," he said. "Each one in their own way could grab the spotlight."
But anytime she was getting credit for something, she'd highlight Lowell's role in it. Lowell would do the same, Carl said.
Lowell would often say he was "the happiest man you know," which Nancy said was a compliment to her because it showed how much he cherished their marriage.
"Many people hopefully go into a marriage saying, not only do I love this person, I love the idea that we're married. I love the idea of being happily married," Nancy said. "And he did. He loved the idea of us being together in business, just together, period."
Lowell's last social outing happened to be on their anniversary. The couple attended the Halifax Health Foundation Gala, which benefits the Lohman Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology.
Lowell had a chance to speak about supporting diabetes research and that, Nancy said, was perfect.
In 1982, Lowell who played competitive 7-on7 flag football with his brothers Victor and Daryl, won the National U.S. Touch & Flag Football Championship. He was inducted into the National Flag Football Hall of Fame and the Florida Flag Football Hall of Fame.
His team won the state championship three times.
"He persevered with a tremendous amount of dedication and focus," Nancy said. "... He wouldn't even mention that he had Type 1 diabetes."
He was diagnosed at 18, while he was in college.
It never limited him, Nancy said, adding that his endocrinologist Dr. Sheila Gupta told them his discipline with diabetes led to his discipline in sports.
"Both of them — being a great athlete and thriving with Type 1 diabetes requires steadfast discipline and a focus, and an eye on the prize," Nancy said. "On the field, it was to win the game and with diabetes, it was to live a long, healthy life."
Only 3% of people with Type 1 diabetes live to 80 years old. So Lowell made that his goal. He wanted to live until he was at least 80.
And, he did.
Over the last decade or so, Nancy said, Lowell, who also beat polio as a child, became passionate on finding ways to help others with Type 1 diabetes live an easier life. To "teach and share," as he often said.
"He would always say, 'If someone else can do something almost as good as you, and you do it anyway, you are taking two steps backwards' — because you haven't helped that other person grow and blossom," Nancy said.
In 2018, Lowell was asked to speak at the University of Florida Diabetes Institute in front of endocrinologists, doctorate students and researchers on how diabetes does't need to limit one's life. That was one of the most important days of his life, said Nancy.
"It was a huge passion of his to work in our community to create ways to help people have access to clinical health care with endocrinologists, to have educational opportunities in the diabetes space and to provide outreach into the community, which was the catalyst for us working with Halifax Health to open the Lohman Diabetes Center, because it was a way to create an umbrella organization — a brick and mortar — a place where you go for all of that care."
The center opened in 2021 and it has been a "game changer" for helping patients with diabetes in the community, said John Guthrie, vice president and executive director of the Halifax Health Foundation. The center focuses on providing self-management education and support, and since opening, Guthrie said they've touched the lives of over 5,000 people — 3,000 of whom have diabetes.
"Lowell said all along, 'I want to help every single person with diabetes we can,'" Guthrie said. "... He pushed me and us at Halifax Health to get even more involved and to understand even better what it takes, from a day-to-day perspective, for people with diabetes to thrive as he wanted them to do. As he did in his life."
The first time Carl met Lowell was in the late 90s. Carl was on the City Commission and they were reviewing a special exception request from the Lohmans as they geared up to construct their funeral home on Granada Boulevard.
I remember saying to [the commissioners], 'Well, I don't know who these people are' and I really had a vision for what we were going to be building on Granada, and really, a funeral home wasn't anything that I had in mind," Carl recalled with a laugh. "I remember him backing up and saying, 'I promise you, if you let me build this funeral home, it will be the most beautiful building on Granada."
Carl said he shrugged his shoulders at the time and voted to approve the special exception.
Then a couple of years later, Nancy was president of the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce and Carl was mayor. They would run into each other often, and one night, they were each at Stonewood Grill on A1A with their significant others — Carl with Susan, and Lowell with Nancy.
They made their introductions, made plans to attend an FSU game the next day, and that kickstarted a friendship between the four that has lasted 25 years.
Susan was the one who gave Lowell his nickname of "The Lowell."
Publicly, Lowell and Carl often ragged on each other.
"We had this unwritten rule, Lowell and I, that we never said anything complimentary about each other publicly," Carl said.
When Carl approached him a few years ago about funding a field study program for students to attend the Museum of Arts and Sciences, Lowell was "all in."
But when it was time to be recognized for his contribution to the program — which allows every fifth and eighth grader at Volusia County Schools to visit the museum for a day of science education a year, at no cost to the school district or student — Lowell said that being around Carl always cost him money.
"He'd never say, 'Oh, that was a great idea by Carl,'" he said. "He would just say, 'The guy's just a drain on my wallet.'"
It was all spoken with love, Carl said.
"He was a fiercely competitive business person, who was an amazing athlete ... and this generous, kind soul that really wanted to make his community better, as well as helping individuals become the best they could be," Carl said.
In 2021, MOAS named its planetarium after the Lohmans, who have gifted over $3 million to the museum's endowment. The Lohman's Museum of Arts and Sciences Field Study program was also established in 2021.
Tabitha Schmidt, executive director at MOAS, met the Lohmans shortly after starting to work at the museum in the fall of 2022. It was an immediate connection.
Lowell was "one-of-a-kind in the best possible way," she said.
"There are certain people in the world who make a mark," Schmidt said. "They make a big difference, and that was Lowell and Nancy too. They're two peas in a pod."
They gave — of themselves, of their time, of their talents and their money. But they were also, Schmidt said, genuinely authentic and caring.
"They're just purely good people, doing good things to make a big difference, and I think that's why you're hearing so much about him, because they gave from the heart," Schmidt said. "There was no other agenda."
In addition to his business successes, Lowell would want to be remembered as a great family man, Guthrie said. And, as part of the "Nancy and Lowell" duo.
Guthrie has Lowell's book on his nightstand. He opens it up periodically and looks at the inscription Lowell wrote for him: "The more I'm around you, the more impressed I am."
"For somebody who is that accomplished to give me those words, that just does nothing but build your confidence in everything you do," Guthrie said. "I think he really built people up and that's probably the biggest thing — he shared love, grace and intellect with so many people."
Ty Lohman said he feels he grew up with a superhero for a dad.
"All through my life, he's been my hero," he said.
After Ty graduated from FSU, he was recruited by the University of Cincinnati to play football. He was redshirted, but Lowell never missed a home game, even though Ty told him he was just sitting on the bench.
But Lowell still flew up for every home game.
"He just wanted to let me know I'm doing the right thing, and as long as I'm on the bench, he'll be in the stands watching me," Ty said.
Lowell had many "Lowellisms." Phrases he'd repeat over and over to get his point across.
Teach and share. Learning is the first step in an adventurous life. Lead from the front.
Words that have stuck with people who met him at different points of his life. Many are encapsulated in his book.
How would he like to be remembered?
The way he's being remembered right now, said Nancy and Ty.
Since his death, Nancy and Ty have read numerous stories of how Lowell impacted lives. Nancy's kitchen countertop is lined with tupperware containers of food. Ty spent two nights in a row reading stories shared on social media, only lasting about 30 minutes each time before he's overwhelmed.
"It takes some of the pain away," Ty said.
The Persises said they're devastated at losing Lowell. Their families have been intertwined for decades. His loss creates a huge gap, Susan said.
"It's just going to be different without Lowell," Susan said. "He put a special touch on everything we did."
The statement of Lowell having a "beautiful blend of power and warmth" will be his epitaph on his mausoleum crypt. The words also introduce his book. "Have a tremendous blend of power and warmth. It's the perfect combination in business," Lowell is quoted.
The phrase is a testament, Nancy said, to his leadership skills and ability to motivate people to action, and correct them if needed, in a way that was both strong and loving.
"I just want people to know that my heart is full with gratitude for their recognition of Lowell and his contributions, his generosity and his love for this community," Nancy said.
The Lohman family will host a closed-casket visitation at Lohman Funeral Home Ormond from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6. His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, 399 N. U.S. 1. Following the service, the Lohman family invites the community to join in procession to the Lohman Private Estate at Daytona Memorial Park for his entombment service and a special toast to Lowell and Victor Lohman, two legendary cemeterians.
Memorial donations can be made to the Halifax Health Lohman Diabetes Center, 301 Clyde Morris Boulevard, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114; MOAS Lohman Planetarium, 352 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114; and the Halifax Humane Society, 2364 LPGA Boulevard, Daytona Beach, Florida 32124.
