Remembering Maria Delgado

MARIA LUISA DELGADO was born in Baranquilla, Colombia, October 1, 1937. She died at HUP in Philadelphia, at age 87, on June 5, 2025, with her beloved Howard Lowell at her bedside.

A brilliant student, Maria Luisa started college, at age 15, at the University of Antioquia, a public research-based university, located in the city of Medellin, Colombia. 

She majored in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.

She worked in Colombia for the Borden Chemical Company. In 1966, Borden offered her the chance to work in their Philadelphia division. So, at age 29, Maria Luisa came alone to a strange country and second language to work and eventually become a naturalized citizen.

Few can imagine the limits, hardships and inequalities that were the norm for single women at that time. Women were not even permitted to get credit cards or mortgages without male cosigners until 1974.

When Borden moved its Philly location to the suburbs, Maria Luisa transitioned to Sadtler Laboratories. She later changed to the PA Department of Health, Bureau of Laboratories, and worked there for 30 years. She was one of the investigators for Legionnaire’s Disease.

When the state moved its laboratories to Lionville in Chester County, Maria Luisa bought a van and carpooled her co-workers. Her driving enabled many people to stay employed. She maintained Perfect Attendance.

During these years, she rose to become President of the SHPE&S (Society of Hispanic Professional, Engineers and Scientists).

Maria Luisa retired in 2004. She loved learning for the pleasure of learning and teaching. She also enjoyed the social components enabled during education.

In addition to her work as a chemist, Maria-Luisa taught Spanish on evenings and weekends, including at:

The Universal School of languages,

The Pan-American Association, and 

OLLI at Temple, where she became Chairperson of Curriculum, at one point becoming the VP of the volunteer board.

Maria Luisa met Howard in 1970, when he signed up to learn Spanish in preparation for a trip to Mexico. They segued through private tutoring, to friendship, to a romance that began in 1972.

Howard and Maria-Luisa were lifetime learners who enjoyed learning in classrooms and via traveling. Trips included:

1997 to Puerto Rico for a friend’s wedding and 5 days of exploration.

With Elderhostel in 2000 to Quebec, 2001 to Ottawa, 2002 to Gettysburg, 2003 to Williamsburg, VA.

2011 they went to India for the wedding of Ravi, a tenant who had become a friend. They piggy-backed on the wedding travel with an Odysseys Unlimited two-week tour of North India.

Maria Luisa battled Heart Disease, Asthma and Diabetes for many years and was sick for a while, cared for beautifully by her romantic partner of 50 years, Howard Lowell.-

On Thursday, Howard was sitting with Marie Luisa when he noticed she had stopped breathing. He was faithful and present to the end.

Maria Luisa was brave, brilliant, a wonderful neighbor, active in the Garden Court Community Association and the University City Arts League (UCAL) - now The Arts League.

She was a great hostess, initiator of the GCCA Progressive Dinner, one of the initial Garden Court Community gardeners, longtime GCCA Board Member, and a Chair of the UCAL Auction.

She will be missed by many.

I hope younger volunteers step up to fill her shoes, and that her partner Howard finds support and easy access to wonderful memories as he grieves her loss.

-- Thanks to Liz Campion, GCCA Board Member.

10 AM Viewing

St. Francis DeSales Church,

4625 Springfield Ave.,

followed by Funeral Mass at 11 AM

Saturday, June 14

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Maria’s name to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at PO Box 781352 Philadelphia, PA 19178

give2.chop.edu

Luisa at about 18 years of age