Obituary of J. Lincoln Hallowell

J. Lincoln Hallowell, “Linc”, as he was known to family and friends alike, was born on December 23, 1939, and raised in Brooklyn, the third of four children of Walter H. and Anne Dorman Hallowell. He was the grandson of John J. Dorman, Fire Commissioner of New York, who commissioned the John J. Harvey Fireboat. He graduated from Brooklyn Prep and completed his education at Villanova University and later received his law degree from St. John’s University.

Linc’s career took him from Chief Court Adjuster for Liberty Mutual to a law practice with Dewey Ballantine, then Bleakley Platt & Schmidt, and Ferguson Cohen, but along the way spent over 20 years in the oil industry, first with the New England Petroleum Corp. as Associate General Counsel, then American Ultramar Ltd. as Vice President and Corporate Counsel, and finally as Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Affairs prior to his retirement in 1992. During his years with the oil industry, Linc was Director and Secretary of the Petroleum Industry Research Foundation.

Linc is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Joan Bee McInerney, and their three children, J. Lincoln Hallowell, Jr. (Jennifer Glick), Aimerie Hallowell Scherluebbe (Mark Scherluebbe) and their two children, Joanna and Benjamin, and Julie Hallowell (Constantin Vulpescu) and their two sons, Alex and Nicholas. Linc’s sisters, Anne Obuck, Elizabeth Valentino, and brother, Walter Jr., all pre-deceased.

Joan and Linc first met at age 14 and had their first date, a St. Valentine’s Dance at the Cathedral Club of Brooklyn, where Linc served as President several years later.

Joan and Linc were avid golfers, he with two holes-in-one, and they were long-time members of the Mount Kisco Country Club, where Linc served two terms as President. They enjoyed many years together traveling throughout the United States and Europe playing golf together.

He never walked past a piano without playing it. He was known as the “Governor’s Piano Player” during Hugh Carey’s tenure. Rocky Graziano called him “Fingers”. Vic Damone said to him “you play a nice cocktail piano”. His music made every party better, especially when others joined in to sing.

Linc passed away peacefully on Monday, January 12, 2026, following a prolonged struggle with orthostatic hypotension. He will be remembered for his warmth, wisdom, and sense of humor that will be greatly missed.

His family will receive friends on Thursday, January 15, 2026 at Clark Associates Funeral Home, 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah, NY from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, January 16 at St Mary of The Assumption RC Church , 55 Valley Road, Katonah, NY

Interment will follow at the Pound Ridge Cemetery, Pound Ridge, NY

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the John J. Harvey Fireboat at www.1931fireboat.org.