Biography: In many ways, the essence of Herbert Lowenthal’s life is best captured by the phrase “The Great Escape”. The reference is not to the exciting 1963 Steve McQueen movie, but rather a primary factor in so much of what passionately drove Herbert, in addition to it serving as the namesake for the successful travel agency he founded and managed for 35 years.
 
Born December 6, 1935, to Adolf and Sabina, both Polish Jewish immigrants, Herbert Lowenthal joined the vibrant life of the Bronx borough of New York City. His childhood and teen years saw him playing dominoes and marbles with friends, winning the borough stickball championship, graduating from PS 81, and then City College with a Bachelor and Masters of Sciences degrees. In his twenties, as did many good-looking, silver-tongued charmers of the day, Herb frequented the Miami Beach of the 1950s with dear friends in search of sun and fun. He was adept at finding both.

The turn of the decade found Herb in San Antonio, Texas serving in the Air National Guard and receiving an honorable discharge in 1961. Professionally at that time, Herb was teaching science and math to middle school students, and thereafter founding one of the first charter travel agencies, Educational Enterprises, focused on summer travel for teachers.
 
In each situation, Herb tapped a polyglot’s reservoir of languages, with fluidity in French, German, Yiddish, and a passable, if heavily New York accented, Spanish. It was perhaps his endearing Spanish, eye for eternal beauty, and appreciation for strong women that brought Herb Lowenthal and Evelina Levy together. After a one-week whirlwind courtship, they became engaged and were married in 1965.
 
Nostalgic for the warmer memories of his roaring 20s, Herb moved his very pregnant wife, Evelina, five-year-old son, Richard, three-year-old daughter, Yvette, and soon-to-be-born daughter, Francesca, to Sunset Island #3, a lovely, family-focused community in Miami Beach.

It was in Miami Beach that Herb started Great Escape Travel and built a thriving hybrid charter and retail travel business. Over 35 years, this aptly named agency enabled Hebert to travel the world designing unique destination experiences for teachers and dentists. By his side, his wife, Evelina, served as his true rock, life preserver, and forever love. And over those wonder years, calling Sunset Island home created for his family a forever community filled with everlasting friendships.

Herb Lowenthal loved life, loved traveling, loved taking his daughters on mystery trips, loved playing tennis with his friends, and loved taking his grandchildren for ice cream. He lit up a room and remembered everyone’s name. Herb was quick with a well-timed joke; he was always on-point with witty advice, like “let’s do this by the numbers” or “you can ask anyone for anything so long as you do it using nice words and a nice tone”. He was honest and genuine with strangers and intimates alike. His kindness and generosity to friends knew no bounds. In the latter years, at the Jewish Home in Miami or nursing home in Little Rock, he became the social mayor and much beloved by residents and caregivers.
 
In a final act of generosity and courage, Herb wished to donate his brain to the University of Miami for the study of mental illness. He was extubated on Saturday, February 27th at about 1:00 pm. In order for his brain to enter the research program, he needed to be off the ventilator and breathing on his own for at least twenty-four hours. Herb successfully did so and lived another seven days with his family singing show tunes, sharing stories, and sure, shedding a boatload of tears by his side.

Herb made his Great Escape to the next part of his journey on the evening of Sunday, February 28, 2021. He is survived by his loving ex-wife, Evelina, three children, Richard, Yvette, and Francesca, his daughter-in-law, Lynette, his sons-in-law, Rigoberto and Peter, and beloved grandchildren Gabriela, Matthew, Rocky, Jack, and Benjamin.

In lieu of flowers, we hope you will give as generously as Herb did to help the following programs in their mission to find cures for mental illness and brain disorders, and care for those in need:
https://www.baptisthealthfoundation.org/areas-of-purpose/hospice/#donate 
https://www.nami.org/About-NAMI/Donate-to-NAMI