Bronia Levenson Lowenstein's Obituary
Bronia Levenson Lowenstein died on January 07, 2025, in her home in Gainesville, Florida, surrounded by her family, after a brief illness. She was 89.
Born May 16, 1935, Bronia was the widow of former University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Dean, Ralph Lynn Lowenstein, and a beloved member of the UF community, participating as a docent and supporter of the Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville’s public radio and television stations, and a frequent figure at UF cultural and educational events for almost five decades. She was also an active member of the Jewish community’s B’nai Israel sisterhood and Hadassah, as well as being active in religious and cultural activities in Columbia, Missouri where she and Dean Lowenstein also lived for many years before moving to Gainesville.
Bronia was born in El Paso, Texas and grew up in La Mesa, New Mexico, a town of 200, just 30 miles away. She received her degree in teaching from Texas Western University, now The University of Texas at El Paso. At the age of 19, she met and married her life partner, Ralph Lowenstein, who was then stationed with the 101st Airborne at Fort Bliss in El Paso. The curious story of their unlikely meeting and romance was detailed in a Nation Public Radio Story Board recording. She was married to Dean Lowenstein and was his constant companion for almost 70 years until his death in August 2020. Dean Lowenstein credited his wife for his success in life and in building the College of Journalism and Communications into a nationally recognized college, in every speech he ever made. He frequently emphasized Bronia as his inseparable equal in all endeavors, and her extraordinary devotion to family and community.
Apart from her support for her husband and children, Bronia was also a substitute teacher at Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, MO, and had accepted a full-time English teacher position there when she and her husband decided to move to Gainesville to the UF Journalism program, a both difficult and exciting move after her children were already off at college. In 1967, weeks after the Six Day War, Bronia and Ralph moved to Israel with their young children, with the intent of establishing a journalism program at Tel Aviv University and making Israel their home. She took on that adventure with the same steady demeanor that was to be her trademark in life. Despite her many achievements and interests, Bronia is mostly known for being a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She loved any activity involving children and was an active member of the Sierra Club and a life member of Hadassah.
Bronia is survived by her two children, Joan Lowenstein (Jonathan Trobe) of Ann Arbor, Michigan, son Henry A. Lowenstein of Gainesville, grandchildren Max Lowenstein (Liz Lowenstein), Ray Lowenstein (Giselle Matz), Elan Lowenstein (Rachel Lowenstein), Aaron Lowenstein (Soyoung Jung), Julian Trobe, Noah Trobe, and great-grandchildren Jaxton Lynn Lowenstein and Sara Lowenstein. She is also survived by her brother, Sherman Levenson (Sandy) and her nephews Danny Levenson (Jill), Jerry Levenson (Heidi), and great-niece and nephews Illiana and Nathanial Levenson, and Dylan and Jonah Levenson.
The family will hold a graveside service on Friday, January 10. Friends may make memorial contributions to Congregation B’nai Israel and the Florida Museum of Natural History.
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