Benjamin Harding Hallowell Jr.

Commander Benjamin H. Hollowell Jr., died on on 2 December 2022, in San Diego California. Ben was born in Boston, MA, on 10 September 1938, the son of the late Benjamin H. Hollowell and Dorothy McKey Hallowell. He graduated from Lawrence Academy, Groton, MA, and turned down acceptance at Harvard in favor of the Naval Academy. He was especially proud to have been appointed by Senator John F. Kennedy.

Upon graduation from the Academy he began a career in Naval Aviation, training at Pensacola, New Iberia, and Oceana. His first assignment after flight training was VS 28 at Quonset Point, RI. He served thereafter in anti-submarine squadrons, VS 28, VS 41, and VS 29, and on the Carrier Air Group in San Diego and at sea on the USS Wasp (CV18), USS Yorktown (CV10), and USS Ticonderoga (CV14). While serving on the Tico, he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for correcting a serious safety issue. He married Avery Whitehorne in Middlebury, Vermont, on 20 July 1968.

Health issues put him ashore in 1978 where he served first on the staff of the Fourth Naval District in Philadelphia, PA, then at various commands in San Diego.

Ben retired from the Navy in 1984. After some dedicated time golfing, he began a career in mortgage banking. While doing that, he devoted many hours to resourcing programs for Wounded Warriors being treated at NMCSD, Balboa Hospital. Additionally, he was one of the founders of the Old Goats, a group comprised of Academy graduates and their friends that focuses on veterans and in helping youth, Kids Who Care, doing charitable projects for community and veterans’ causes. He left mortgage banking to increase his involvement in these and similar charities in which he maintained an interest until his death. Ben was also a long time member of the Optimist Club of Coronado and the Coronado Men’s Golf Club.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Avery; his brother, Edward (Ned) M. Hallowell, MD; and sister-in-law, Sue Hallowell along with many nieces and nephews.

In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Warrior Foundation Freedom Station.

VOL. 113, NO. 1 - Jan. 4, 2023