Lowell Tracy Olmstead

1999-2018

Lowell Olmstead died on Sunday, December 16, 2018 – his 19th birthday – from complications following surgery. He was at home recovering and died peacefully in his sleep.

Lowell was home for the holidays from the University of Alabama where he was enrolled in the business school and had recently pledged SAE. Born in Atlanta on December 16, 1999 to Kathy McCarroll and George Tracy Olmstead, Jr., Lowell was a devoted big brother to Nate, born just 21 months later. He attended Morris Brandon Elementary School until 5th grade and graduated from Woodward Academy in 2018.

It was at Woodward that he excelled at four years of football and three of lacrosse. At six-feet tall and just 165 pounds, he worked with determination and dedication—achieving the 800-pound club—to make the most of his innate strength and competitive spirit. He had great respect for and looked up to his coaches and bonded with his teammates on and off the field, forming deep friendships. Those relationships and others with young men and women from all over the city were his passion. As a friend, he was focused, loyal and caring—eager to offer whatever support was needed.

To his family, Lowell was dedicated, loving and inspiring. He had a strong personality and was fiercely independent, going about life on his own path. Not known to be quiet or still for any length of time, Lowell was never without earbuds delivering the music, from rock to rap, that fueled his high energy level. Lowell enjoyed cooking for himself and close friends, and the family all looked forward to and enjoyed annual winter skiing and summer hiking-biking trips to Jackson Hole.

In addition to the many friends who will miss him, Lowell is survived by devoted relatives: his parents, Kathy and George Olmstead, and his brother, Nate. Lowell’s grandparents include Lydia J. and Patrick C. McCarroll; Lilla C. Costello (Marion Eugene “M.E.”); and George T. Olmstead, Sr. (Amanda). Aunts and uncles who survive him are: William McCarroll and Jennifer Dana (Deemer); Drew Olmstead (Susan), Jon Olmstead (Jill); Lawton Costello; Vanessa McDonald; Blake Mavrogeorgis (Peter) and Jamie Olmstead (Melissa). His cousins will miss him, too: Rowe McCarroll, Jackson Dana, Berkeley Dana; Gigi Olmstead and Nicholas Olmstead; and Julian Olmstead.

Lowell’s life will be celebrated at a service at 2 p.m. on Friday in the Gresham Chapel on the Woodward Academy campus, 1600 Rugby Avenue, College Park, GA 30337. A reception will follow. Due to Lowell’s interest in the military and his intent to join ROTC at the University of Alabama, the family suggests a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517 or woundedwarriorproject.org.