Franklin John Lowe Sr. “Frank,” 82, of Cleveland, OH, passed away at his home on August 31, 2025, from natural causes.

Frank was born on October 15, 1942, to Ines and Ferdinand (John) Lowe in Villa Rica, Panama.  

After Frank graduated from high school in his native Panama, he moved to the United States and went on to study chemistry at North Carolina A&T.

He then moved to South Bend, Indiana to start his career as a Chemist.  This is where he met Janice Montigue.

Frank and Janice married and had a family of three children, Franklin J. Lowe Jr., Michelle Nicks and Monique Altman.

As a chemist, Frank’s career included a move to Heath, Ohio outside of Columbus, and a job at Owens Corning Fiberglass in Granville, Ohio.  Frank created several patented products for the company.   He also went on to work for Premier labs in Cleveland.

Frank’s love of science also led to a second career as a teacher with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District where he worked for well over 20 years, and from which he retired.

As a cancer survivor Frank had a zest for life and was a proud supporter of various Caribbean and Jamaican organizations and clubs in Cleveland.  He found peace living near the waters of Lake Erie and enjoyed sports, music, dancing, cooking, and food.  One of his favorite foods was Jamaican cow foot that he would treat himself to nearly every Saturday from one of his favorite restaurants The Taste of Jamaica.

As a mentor to young men and women Frank always had a joke or a smile and a gentle nature that along with his accent made him easy and fun to get to know.  His pride was in his children, he spoke of them often with happiness and enjoyed bragging about their accomplishments.

Frank was preceded in death by his mother Ines Lowe, his father Ferdinand  (John) Lowe, his ex-wife Janice Lowe, and his best friend Karl Winston Roye.

He is survived by his children Franklin J. Lowe, Jr. (Cynthia) of Phoenix, Arizona, Michelle Nicks of Cleveland, and Monique Altman (Michael) of St. Augustine, Florida, his grandsons Jackson Xavier Lowe and Jordan West (Amy) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and his great-grandsons Royce West, Liam West, and JJ West.

Frank had such a big heart that other special friends considered him family as well, including Sonia Gibson of South Euclid, Shante Frazier, Damon Lee, Justin Rogers, Shannise Dillard, and a host of adopted nieces and nephews, all who said, “Frank was like the woodwork of our family, he was a great person with a big heart, and he never missed a family gathering.”

Frank also shared a special bond with life-long friend George Creed of Land O’Lakes, Florida.  Frank and George met in college and over the last few years talked to each other by phone every single morning until his death.