H.I.S. Class of 1936 Harry A. Dower Attorney

Harry A. Dower passed away after a lengthy illness on December 22, 2010. He was 92 years old. He was born November 29, 1918 in Bethlehem, PA, the second child of James Dower, Sr. and Elizabeth Dunstan Dower.

In 1932, Elizabeth Dower died of a brain tumor, and soon after Harry and his three brothers, James, Jr., George, and Warren, were sent to the Milton Hersey School in Hershey, PA where he remained until he graduated in 1936.

Harry then entered Lafayette College in Easton, PA and graduated Cum Laude, as well as Phi Beta Kappa, in 1940.

The day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Harry enlisted in the Armed Forces. In 1943 he was promoted to the rank of Captain and served in the Engineering Corps of the Army Air Forces in the European Theater. He took part in several major battles, including the Invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 and the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944.

Upon his discharge from the army in November 1945, Harry and his young bride, the former Marion Francis Clark, moved to New Haven, Connecticut where he entered Yale Law School, graduating in 1948. They had two daughters: Nancy, born in New Haven and Mary, born in Allentown. He passed the bar in April 1950, joined the law firm of Perkins and Twining, and eventually became a partner. In 1962 he formed his own law firm of Dower, McDonald, and Cahn. Thereafter he mentored many lawyers who became highly regarded members of the legal community. He was a longtime member of the Bar Association of Lehigh County. In addition to his work as a lawyer, Harry taught in the Business School at Lehigh University and was co-author of a law textbook, The Problems of Business in a Free Society.

During his lengthy career he represented clients in every level of the judicial system, including, in 1975, the U.S. Supreme Court. A life-long advocate for justice and civil liberties, Harry was one of the earliest pioneers of the American Civil Liberties Union. He frequently represented the ACLU in cases pro bono. He believed in serving his community and did so in numerous capacities, including serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the following organizations: Wiley House, NAACP, and numerous other charitable and service organizations. His passion for the law was coupled with a deeply held belief that he needed to use his considerable intelligence to be a voice for those who were disadvantaged.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Marion Clark Dower; both parents; and brothers, James, Jr., George, and Warren. Survivors: He is survived by daughters, Nancy Dower, of Atlanta, GA; Dr. Mary Dower Salisbury, of Riverbank, CA; grandson, Jeremy Alverson, of Missoula, MT; granddaughter, Olivia Jagelski, of Lolo, MT; sisters, Eleanore Dower, of Philadelphia, Francis Whipple, of Walnut Creek, CA, and Caroline Barrett, of Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services: A memorial service with military honors will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Allentown on April 16, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. with internment in the churchs Memorial Garden immediately following. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in his honor to the ACLU of Pennsylvania, P.O. Box 40008, Philadelphia, PA 19106 or a charity of your choice.