Philantropist Ralph Lowell, Harvard Fundraiser, Dies at 87

Ralph Lowell '12, distinguished Boston resident, civic leader and philanthropist, died Monday in Faulkner Hospital, Jamaica Plain. He was 87.

A man of broad interests and great influence, Lowell assumed management of the "Lowell Fund for Assisting Students at Harvard" in 1922. Lowell brought the fund to over $2 million--a tenfold increase--before he retired from the post in 1959.

"Mr. Boston"

Known as "Mr. Boston," Lowell was the seventh generation of his family to attend Harvard. At one point in his life, he was the nation's busiest executive, holding offices in 44 corporations and institutions.

A pioneer of educational broadcasting and television's Boston Channel 2, WGBH, Lowell was also long-time president of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

During his life, Lowell was showered with honorary degrees from nine Boston-area colleges and received countless citations for community betterment.

Services for Lowell will be held today at 2 p.m. in Memorial Chapel in Harvard Yard.