James Kimball Dow Jr: November 27, 1928 to May 22, 2014
James Kimball Dow Jr. died on Thursday, May 22, 2014, in North Andover, MA, aged 85, of pneumonia. Mr. Dow is survived by his wife Katherine Stirling Dow and by their sons David Stirling Dow and Michael Scott Dow, and his nephew Peter Craig Freeman.
Born November 27, 1928 in Boston to Marion Tichenor Dow and James Kimball Dow (and grandson of Judge Harry R. Dow), he grew up in their home at 154 Johnson Street. He was educated at Pike School, Phillips Exeter Academy, and Harvard.
After earning his AB in Chemistry in 1950, he went to work for DuPont Chemicals until 1954, when he entered the Naval Reserve. He served as a meteorologist, stationed at Barber’s Point Naval Air Station in Hawaii.
He left the service in 1957 to attend the Harvard Business School. While pursuing his MBA (which he earned in 1959), he met Miss Katherine Stirling through mutual friends, and was smitten. They were married on April 2, 1960 in Tarrytown, NY.
The young couple moved to Cambridge, MA and Mr. Dow started working in the Trusts division of the New England Merchants Bank. In 1962, they moved back to Andover, to an apartment on Salem Street, and in October of 1964 their first son, David, was born. In 1966 they bought their first home, a colonial era farmhouse on Holt Road. In 1970, their second son, Michael, was born.
Professionally, Mr. Dow pioneered the use of computing in investment management, and rose to the rank of Executive Vice President before leaving what had by then become the Bank Of New England, and moving to a similar position with State Street Bank & Trust. He retired in 1993, and pursued his interests in gardening, antique furniture and colonial era silverware.
Mr. Dow served as Treasurer of Abbot Academy, a Trustee of the Andover Historical Society, and on the vestry of Christ Church in Andover.
Memorial Service will be held at 2 PM on Friday, May 30, 2014 at Christ Church (Central Street, Andover, MA). A reception will follow in the parish hall. Donations in his name may be made to Andover Historical Society.