Ronald Lowenberg didn’t become a Catholic until he was 30, when he was more than a decade into his marriage to Catherine Hurley, a lifelong Irish Catholic from Green Bay, Wis.
RON LOWENBERG IS PICTURED ON THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS IN GARDEN GROVE ON NOV. 17, 2023. PHOTO BY RENNE ENRIQUEZ/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
By then, he and his wife, Kitty (she uses her grandmother’s name), were expecting their sixth and last child. All the kids were baptized at St. Columban in Garden Grove — the church where Ron and Kitty got married — and attended St. Polycarp Catholic School in Stanton.
RON LOWENBERG MARRIED HIS WIFE KITTY AT ST. COLUMBAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN GARDEN GROVE ON JAN. 8, 1966. PHOTOS COURTESY OF RON LOWENBERG
“A deacon took me under his wing,” recalled Lowenberg, sitting in his office in the Pastoral Center on the campus of Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove on a late-fall afternoon.
RON LOWENBERG CONFERS WITH GOVERNOR PETE WILSON, CHIEF DAVE SNOWDEN (COSTA MESA PD) AND CHIEF PAUL WALTERS (SANTA ANA PD) ON PENDING CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM IN 1989. LOWENBERG WAS PRESIDENT OF THE OC CHIEFS’ AND SHERIFFS’ ASSOC. AT THE TIME.
You could say when it comes to his faith, Lowenberg has been making up for lost time.
“I’ve been accused of being more devout than lifelong Catholics,” he said with a chuckle, “because I’ve really taken my faith seriously.”
RON LOWENBERG SERVED AS CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE HUNTINGTON BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR 13 YEARS.
NOT THE RETIRING TYPE
In law enforcement circles throughout the state and beyond, Lowenberg, now a silver-haired 77-year-old with a trim build, is well known for his sterling career in law enforcement – notably, as chief of police of the Huntington Beach Police Department for 13 years and, following that, as dean and director of the Criminal Justice Training Center at Golden West College (GWC) for 17 years.
He has held such positions as president of the California Police Chiefs’ Association and the Orange County Chiefs’ and Sheriffs’ Association and has served three times as chair of the California State Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
Like many ex-cops, Lowenberg has a difficult time retiring.
Which explains his response when Bishop Kevin Vann approached him in 2020 with a question.
For eight years, Lowenberg and Bishop Vann had worked closely together on the Diocese’s Oversight Review Board, established in 2003 in the wake of the national clergy sexual abuse scandal.
The late Bishop Tod Brown appointed Lowenberg as founding chairperson of that board.
RON LOWENBERG PARTICIPATES IN HBPD K-9 TRAINING, CIRCA 1998.
“So, Ron, what are you going to do when you retire from Golden West College?” Bishop Vann, who succeeded Bishop Brown in 2012, asked Lowenberg.
“Well, I’m not sure,” the man everyone calls “chief ” responded. “But I know I want to do something.” “I might have a job for you,” Bishop Vann said.
Which explains why Lowenberg has an office in the Pastoral Center.
RON LOWENBERG (FRONT, CENTER) AT THE PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL IN SACRAMENTO, CA, IN 2001. PHOTO COURTESY OF RON LOWENBERG
‘IN PHENOMENAL HANDS’
Since August 2020, Lowenberg has been serving as manager/director of internal investigations and review for the Diocese.
He oversees a team of contracted investigators who probe allegations of abuse and misconduct by clergy and laypersons serving in the Diocese’s 60-plus parishes and more than 40 diocesan schools, as well as hundreds of diocesan volunteers and employees.
And what better person for the job than Lowenberg, a law enforcement professional for 36 years?
“The Diocese is in phenomenal hands with him,” said Rick Hicks, former police chief of Cypress who has known Lowenberg since the mid-1980s and who worked with him for years at GWC as coordinator of the Criminal Justice Center.
“There’s nobody better both in terms of experience of leading and overseeing complex investigations that have high stakes involved, and ensuring that the truth is ferreted out, than Ron,” Hicks said. “He has years of overseeing dynamic investigations, and being able to bring that skill set to the Diocese is really huge.”
Lowenberg sees his job with the Diocese as a calling.
RON LOWENBERG RECEIVES THE GOVERNOR’S LIFETIME EXCELLENCE IN POLICE
TRAINING AWARD FROM GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS IN 2001.
“It really feels good and feels like we’re doing something that needs to be done,” he said.
Lowenberg also is, by numerous accounts, a great human – nice and respectful, someone who never forgets a person’s name and treats all colleagues (regardless of rank or title) as equals, and a man who places faith and family first.
“He’s an incredibly honest and caring person — just a real solid guy,” said Fr. Mike Rizzo, parochial vicar and temporary administrator of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Aliso Viejo. “In a sense, he’s like everyone’s grandfather.”
MARINE CORPS VETERAN
While discussing his faith and career, a couple of diocesan colleagues saw Lowenberg through his open door and greeted him.
“We are blessed to have him here,” said Steve Pellegrini, chief financial and administration officer. “He’s an amazing resource.”
Denise Valadez, associate superintendent of curriculum, spirituality and accreditation, declared: “He’s a rock star.” Lowenberg, who grew up in Garden Grove and attended Rancho Alamitos High School, never really had designs on becoming a rock star in law enforcement or in the Diocese.
He got into policing at the suggestion of a relative after he and Kitty had their first child, Wendy, while Lowenberg was still serving in the Marine Corps and the family was stationed in San Diego. He had decided against a career in the Marines and needed a job.
Lowenberg played trombone in high school. In the summer of 1964, he and some buddies decided to join the Marines. He performed in the Marine Corps band and travelled to air shows, change-of-command ceremonies and other events from Hawaii to the Mississippi River to Alaska to Mexico City – his San Diego-based unit’s territory.
THE LOWENBERG FAMILY, CIRCA MID-1980S.
AN IMMEDIATE CONNECTION
A month after leaving the Marines in June 1967, Lowenberg began his career in law enforcement as a recruit at the Cypress Police Department (PD).
“My field training officer was a retired gunnery sergeant in the Marine Corps, and there was an immediate connection,” Lowenberg recalled. “I know to this day that the reason I was a successful young police officer was because of my training in the Marine Corps and its emphasis on teamwork and service.”
RON LOWENBERG IS PICTURED DURING HIS TIME AS POLICE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF CYPRESS, CIRCA 1982. PHOTO COURTESY OF RON LOWENBERG
Lowenberg earned his undergraduate degree while a Cypress police officer, promoted there to sergeant and then joined the Baldwin Park PD as a lieutenant.
While there, he received his master’s degree in public administration. He then transferred to the Tustin PD as a captain.
Mike Shanahan, a young Tustin police officer at the time, recalled Lowenberg as an approachable, hands on leader.
“You know a leader when you see one,” said Shanahan, who went on to become a captain in Tustin and later reconnected with Lowenberg at GWC. “Ron’s always treated people the way you’re supposed to – he was never aloof or stand-offish. He was extremely well liked and very popular among the rank-and-file officers.”
After spending a few years as captain at the TPD, Lowenberg returned to his first agency in Cypress as chief of police.
In addition to serving as chief in Huntington Beach from 1989 to 2002, he was interim police chief for the cities of Pomona, Costa Mesa and Placentia.
RON LOWENBERG DURING HIS TIME AS HUNTINGTON BEACH PD POLICE CHIEF, CIRCA 1990. PHOTOS COURTESY OF RON LOWENBERG
WINNER OF THE BENEMERENTI MEDAL
For 30 years, Ron and Kitty — she’s a longtime aerobics and spin cycle instructor — have been active parishioners at Sts. Simon & Jude in Huntington Beach. They have served at the altar and fulfilled the role of Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and Lowenberg is a past member of the Parish Pastoral Council.
In 2009, Lowenberg received the prestigious Benemerenti Medal from Pope Benedict XVI for his dedication
to, and demonstrated leadership in, the Diocese of Orange. Within the Diocese, he’s been involved in the marriage preparation ministry and with Mater Dei High School’s boys’ basketball program.
In addition, he’s a longtime supporter of the Interval House in Huntington Beach. While police chief of that city, he helped form the shelter for victims of domestic violence. Since 1991, it’s become a nationwide model, with an emergency-response team of survivors who speak dozens of languages and are available 24/7.
“Ron was courageous, he thought out of the box and he always has given us 100-percent support,” said Carol Williams, executive director of Interval House. “I don’t have words to tell you how much this man is a hero to all of us.”
DARK CHAPTERS
Ron and Kitty have weathered some dark chapters during the 58-year marriage – and their faith and strong family values have gotten them through it, both said.
The first crisis was when one of their sons was arrested on suspicion of arson when Lowenberg was Huntington Beach’s cop. The story was all over the press.
“They handled it with grace and dignity,” Shanahan recalled. “They stood by their son and said he’s made terrible mistakes, but that he’s their son and they love him, and that he will be held accountable. Ron didn’t try to use the power of his office to diminish the crime. He’s a man of tremendous character.”
The Lowenbergs, who have 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, recently lost their eldest son, Rob, 55, to an illness (Fr. Mike was the celebrant at his funeral).
“My faith is the most important thing in my life,” Kitty said, “and our faith has gotten us through a lot of things.”
FAMILY MAN
Through it all, Lowenberg has always put his family first, said the Lowenbergs’ first-born child, Wendy Lowenberg-Escobedo, a registered nurse and director of renal services at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange.
“He’s a very kind, gentle and generous man,” Wendy said. “Certainly, we had rules to follow at home, but he and mom were always very loving and unselfish. He was always looking to do exactly what his family needed.”
She added: “Dad has raised public servants, pretty much, without intending to do so. It was just the way he role-modeled to us with his integrity, honesty and humility. He’s all about spending time with family. And the love he has for our mom – he just adores her.”
PARTNERS IN FAITH
On a recent afternoon, Kitty was helping her granddaughter make chocolate chip cookies. For years, she and Ron have helped raise Abby, 15, a sophomore at Mater Dei, and grandson Elijah, 13, a seventh grader at Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic School.
“It meant a lot to me when Ron became a Catholic because I then had a partner in my faith,” said Kitty, who was 18 when she married Ron, who was 19. “And there’s never been any doubt in my mind that me and our children always have been his top priority.”
LIVING THE CATHOLIC LIFE
Jim Burns, a retired FBI agent, replaced Lowenberg as chair of the Oversight Review Board in 2020. They first met as parishioners at Sts. Simon & Jude. Lowenberg recruited Burns to join the board and they’ve become good friends.
“He’s really excellent at what he does,” Burns said. “He’s able to please both sides of most issues. And he gained the respect of everyone on the board.” Burns added: “Ron lives the Catholic life – he really does. He’s open to everybody. He lives a life that Christ would want him to live.”
Fr. Mike, who has family members in law enforcement, said Lowenberg became a police officer “not because it made him better, but because it helped the people around him and the communities in which he lived and served.”
Fr. Mike continued: “And now, he’s helping the Diocese to be better not for him, but because he knows it’s a job that must be done. And if there’s a job to be done, he’s the one to do it.”