Gary Lane Fowler OBITUARY
Gary Lane Fowler died peacefully on Thursday, March 14, 2024. He was 89 years old. Gary was the loving husband of nearly 65 years to Barbara Cooper Fowler, who preceded him in death in 2022. He was the devoted father of Ellen (Jeff) Hummel and Mark (Rebecca) Fowler; and beloved grandfather of Michael Fowler, Sara Hummel, Evan Hummel and Daniel Fowler. Gary was also preceded in death by his father, Forrest Garold Fowler; and his mother, Mildred Wonus Fowler Perryman, both lifelong residents of Cowden, Illinois. Born on March 28, 1934 in Cowden, Gary earned his bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University, and his master’s degree and Ph.D. from Syracuse University. He was a member of Sigma Pi fraternity. Gary and Barbara met at Syracuse and were married in 1957. He served in the Army in North Africa, then returned to Tripoli, Libya with Barbara and their infant daughter, Ellen, in 1963 to complete research for his doctorate. The family returned to Syracuse in 1965 for the birth of their son, Mark, then moved to Bloomington, Indiana where Gary joined the faculty at Indiana University. He also taught at the University of Kentucky. In 1972, Gary accepted a faculty position at the University of Illinois at Chicago (then the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle). During his 30 years at UIC, Gary served as chair of the Geography Department, director of graduate studies, and associate director of the university’s Energy Resources Center. He also served on the executive committees of UIC’s offices of Social Science Research and Solid Waste Research. He was the secretary and president of the American Association of Geographer’s West Lakes Division, and a member of the Science Advisory Council to the Illinois General Assembly. During his academic career, Gary researched environmental issues including hazardous waste management and environmental pollution, and their intersection with public policy. His preferred methodology combined data collection with personal narratives, interviewing residents, community organizers and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive assessments of environmental impacts on communities in Chicago and throughout Illinois. He also studied urban migration, in particular residents of Appalachia who settled in Chicago. Gary retired in 2002, turning his research skills to compiling genealogical histories for family and friends. He and Barbara lived in Evanston, Illinois, and especially enjoyed visiting their vacation home in the North Woods of Wisconsin. Services will be private.
