John M. Fowler, 88, of Silver Spring, Md., died peacefully in his home April 8, 2014. Born in Eufaula, Ala. to parents Earl Donald and Ada Elizabeth Fowler, John received his Bachelor’s Degree from Earlham College in 1949, his Master’s Degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1950, and his doctorate in Physics from Johns Hopkins University in 1954. John went on to teach at Washington University in St. Louis; the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; and the University of Maryland, College Park.
In St. Louis in 1958, leading scientists from Washington and St. Louis universities joined in forming the Committee for Nuclear Information (CNI). John along with E.U. Condon and Barry Commoner, played a leading role in the formation of CNI, drawing attention to the health hazards of radioactive fallout from nuclear explosives. Public concern, based largely on efforts of CNI and similar groups led to the adoption by the U.S. of the Limited Test Ban Treaty in 1963. John was a frequent lecturer on the radiation hazards of nuclear weapons testing, and he also testified on this subject before the U.S. Senate. He was the editor of one of the earliest books on fallout: Fallout: A Study of Superbombs, Strontium 90 and Survival.
As his career progressed, John became increasingly interested in improving science teaching and won awards for his teaching and for his leadership in designing programs to advance the teaching of Physics. John was full-time director of special projects at the National Science Teachers Association from 1974-1984, during which time he also authored the textbook Energy and the Environment. In 1985, he founded the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education, an innovative nonprofit seeking to reform the teaching of science and technology through advocacy and the establishment of partnerships between government, industry, and educational groups at the local and national level. John retired from the Triangle Coalition in 1994, but the organization continues to advance its mission to improve teaching in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.
Always an avid sports fan, after moving to Falls Church, Va. in the mid-1930s, John began cheering for Washington-area football, basketball, and baseball teams. He was a loyal Redskins fan for nearly 80 years, and, over the course of many decades, watched the Senators depart and the Nats arrive, the Bullets become the Wizards, and never lost faith in the O’s. John loved to fish and was a bee keeper and gardener in Maryland for over 30 years. He passed many of his hobbies and interests on to his children. He was known as “Tall Pop” and “Pa” to his many grandchildren.
Preceded in death by his eldest son Lee, his brothers Wayne and Bob, and his granddaughter Sadie Kathryn, John is survived by his wife of 39 years Kathryn “Kay” Fowler and their two children John and Katia; his first wife Margaret Fogg and their six surviving children Lynn, Kay, Kurt, Leslie, Ada and Marian; his 13 grandchildren, and his brothers Earl and Jim.
Friends and relatives are invited to attend his memorial service at 2 p.m. on May 24 at Sandy Spring Friends Meeting in Maryland. A separate memorial service will be held in Albany, Ga. later this year.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Sandy Spring Friends Meeting, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Holy Cross Home Care and Hospice Silver Spring.
