Gail Dowty

Gail S. Dowty, 78, passed away peacefully in her home August 7, 2016, surrounded by her loving family. Born February 7, 1938 in Chicago to the late Norman and Edith (Lerman) Schupack, Gail grew up in Chicago, received a B.S. from Northwestern University in 1959, and worked for ten years as a speech therapist in Chicago public schools.
On January 1, 1973, Gail married Alan Dowty, who survives. Also left to cherish her memory are six children: David (Alix Mikesell) Freeman of Oak Park, IL; Merav Datan of Pardes Hannah, Israel; Tamar (Sandra Shihadeh) Datan of Leesburg, VA; Gidon Datan of Watertown, MA; Rachel (Brooks Etienne) Dowty of Bloomington, IN; and Rafi (Lila) Hollman Dowty of Sacramento, CA; one brother: Stuart Schupack of Sedona, AZ; and four grandsons: Max and Aaron Freeman of Oak Park, IL; and Abel and Saul Etienne of Bloomington, IN.
Since arriving in South Bend in 1975, Gail had an active professional career in educational administration, earning a Master of Science in Administration degree from Notre Dame. She served as Executive Director of the Community Education Round Table and as Tech Prep Curriculum/Staff Development Specialist for School to Work programs at Ivy Tech State College. Other positions included Program Director at the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley, and Adjunct Faculty and Project Coordinator at Indiana University South Bend. During a two-year stay in Israel (1985-87), she was Director of English Publications at the University of Haifa.
Gail was named Woman of the Year in Education by the YWCA of St. Joseph County in 1996. Other awards included the Coalition for Educational Success Achievement Award in 2003 and a Distinguished Service Award from Temple Beth-El (where she had served as President) in 2015.
Gail and Alan shared a love of travel, and managed to visit over 60 countries during their time together. As recently as June, Gail was able to spend two weeks in Israel visiting family and friends.
Gail was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother. Even with her many accomplishments, she always put her family first. Her capacity to make human connections with everyone she met left a wide circle of loving friends. She will be dearly missed.
Funeral services will be Tuesday August 9, at 2:00 p.m. at Temple Beth-El, with Rabbi Karen Companez officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. The McGann Hay, Forest G. Hay Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Temple Beth-El or to the New Israel Fund (www.nif.org), or to a charity of choice.