Joseph Kyran Dowley

Joseph Dowley was born April 23, 1946, in Los Angeles California, son of Michael Francis and Charlotte Moore Dowley. He attended Georgetown University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1968, where he was awarded the Coakley Medal for leadership. Joe was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1968, volunteered for Officer Candidate School and was commissioned Second Lieutenant at Ft. Benning, Georgia, February 1970, serving as a ceremonial platoon leader, 1st Battalion, 3rd U.S. Infantry Brigade (The Old Guard) at Ft. Myer, Virginia until January 1971. He served as an infantry platoon leader in the Republic of Vietnam and later as Brigade Tactical Center officer until October 1971, achieving rank of First Lieutenant. Joe attended Georgetown University Law School, Juris Doctor Conferred in June of 1976. He served on the staff of the Honorable Dan Rostenkowski (8th District, Ill.) from January 1977 until December 1980. Joe served as Assistant Chief Counsel of the Committee on Ways and Means from 1981 to 1984 and Chief Counsel of the Committee from 1985 to 1987, during the development and enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, which was the most extensive overhaul of the Internal Revenue Code since the inception of the income tax. Among other projects, Joe was extensively involved in the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Deficit Reduction Act and the House-passed Trade Act of 1986. Among the bills he participated in during that period: Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, Social Security Amendments of 1983, and the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act of 1984. Both as the Assistant and as Chief Counsel, Joe, working with Chairman Rostenkowski, collaborated closely with the House leadership and key Senate members as well as the White House and Executive Branch agencies. As a partner in private practice, Joe worked for many years and represented numerous clients and coalitions on complex issues before Congress and the administrative agencies. A life-long classic car enthusiast, Joe devoted much of his time to and served as President of the MG Car Club of DC.

Joe was deeply loved, admired, and respected by all he met and most importantly by his beloved family. He loved spending time with his family at Cape Cod, being on his boat, driving his MGs, watching baseball and spending time with his grandchildren. Joe is survived by his wife, Carol Walsh Dowley, his three children, Kristin Dowley Skelton (Greg), Michael Dowley, and Patricia Dowley Sullivan (Sean), his 6 grandchildren Connor Skelton, Charlotte Skelton, Flynn Skelton, Molly Sullivan, Joseph Sullivan, and Lucy Sullivan. He is also survived by his five siblings and their spouses, Patricia Jeffries, Michael Dowley (Sandy), Charlotte LaFemina, John Dowley (Carol), Mary Haug (Jim) and many nieces and nephews. Joe was preceded in death by his Mother Charlotte M. Dowley, his Father Michael F. Dowley, his Mother-in-law Jean L. Walsh, his father-in-law James A. Walsh, and his brother-in-law William Jeffries.

The family will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Luke Catholic Church in McLean, VA on Monday, December 6 at 11:00am and a private interment. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Georgetown Scholars Program (GSP). Their mission is to work towards a more equitable college experience for first-generation and low-income college students.