William M Lowry

Mr. Lowry died Aug. 13 2017 from complications of Parkinson’s disease at St. Barnabas Nursing Home in Gibsonia Pennsylvania. He was 80. Mr. Lowry, who lived in Treesdale, was president and CEO of Pen-Wel Inc. and Consumer Service Casualty Insurance Co. when he joined Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania in 1984. In 1993 he was named president and CEO of the Blues plan. In 1996, Mr. Lowry oversaw the merger of Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Blue Shield, which became Highmark. Mr. Lowry was involved in numerous civic organizations, including Catholic Charities, Carlow College and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. He received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Duquesne University and had served on the advisory board for the university’s John G. Rangos Sr. School of Health Sciences. In addition to his son, Michael, of Pine, Mr. Lowry is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marie, and a daughter, Karen Karasinski; of Ashburn, Va.; and son William of Treesdale.