James Desmond Towey

After 84 and a half years of wonderful life, Desmond passed away peacefully on Saturday July 2, 2022, at Lenox Hill Hospital. James Desmond Towey was born on October 8, 1937, in New York City. Son of James A. and Nora (Sheridan) Towey, Desmond was an academic, teacher, business leader, champion of Alcoholics Anonymous, husband, father, grandfather and celebrator of life. He loved to play the guitar, sing Irish folk songs, write songs (including personalized songs for each of his grandchildren and extended grandchildren), go on dates with his grandchildren, meditate, swim and spend time at the ocean in all seasons.

Desmond earned a Bachelor in Classical Languages, Summa Cum Laude and Phi Betta Kappa, at Catholic University, Washington DC. 1960; Master of Arts in Classical Languages, Manhattan College, 1967; and Master of Business Administration in Marketing, Fordham University, 1977. After becoming a De Lasalle Christian Brother, he taught at various schools established by the religious order and became Chairman of the Department of Classical Languages. After leaving the Brothers, he entered the advertising business, “think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people” was the quote he took from William Butler Yeats to his first experience at Ogilvy & Mather in 1967, moving to J. Walter Thompson in 1968 then establishing the investor relations firm Kehoe, White, Towey & Savage in 1975. In 1985 he created J. Desmond Towey & Associates with his sister Bernadette (Towey) McLaughlin. Together they crafted strategic communications to the financial industry for companies like Charles Schwab, Tyson Foods, and CommonFund. After retiring he became the Executive Director of the DeMello Spirituality Center. Returning to his teaching roots, he led seminars on the work of Jesuit Priest Anthony DeMello one of the seminal forces in the modern mindfulness movement.

Desmond celebrated 50 years of sobriety in April of 2022! He was passionately involved with Alcoholics Anonymous, serving its primary purpose to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. He was a former trustee of the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the “Grapevine” and member of the Alcoholics Anonymous Speaker’s Bureau.

Desmond is survived by his wife and love of his life, Marianne (Marrin) Towey; children Emmett (Karen), Justin (Kristi) and Siobhan (Jason); grandchildren whom he dearly loved Desmond, Ava, Jaden, Jake and Freyja; sister Bernadette (Towey) McLaughlin (Patrick); many treasured cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.