J Scott Fowler, 65, of Maryland Heights passed away Thursday, August 13, 2020. Scott went into cardiac arrest Monday morning doing what he loved above all else – playing pickleball with his friends. He passed from this life, surrounded by those that cared about him most.
Scott was born June 25, 1955 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and later moved to Illinois. In 1973, he graduated from Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Illinois and received his bachelor’s degree from Elmhurst College in 1983.
Beginning from an early age, Scott became interested in horses. His parents bought him his first horse when he was in seventh grade with the hope that it would “keep him out of trouble.” This began his life-long passion for horses. Even though he hadn’t ridden for a few years, he kept his saddle in his living room because “you never know when you might just need a saddle.”
Throughout the years, Scott’s career brought him continued satisfaction within his field. Scott started his career at Gould, which is where he met Vicki, his future wife. Scott and Vicki were married on Friday May 4th, 1984, the day before the Kentucky Derby. They spent their early years as newlyweds exploring and experiencing life together until they settled down to start a family. They moved to a large property in Sandwich, Illinois where they raised their three children.
He had various laboratory jobs in chemistry until he found the career that would define him to his industry. He was renowned for his ground-breaking work in the field of landfill gas collection and the engineering of systems that capture and repurpose these gases. Scott was in great demand and spent his career engineering and managing systems across the country.
Scott was a thoughtful and welcoming man with a great sense of humor and an infectious laugh. He was known to laugh until he cried and relished the opportunity for a practical joke with his family.
Scott took on many hobbies and passion projects over his lifetime including horses, tennis, bowling, horseshoes, cooking, movies, reading, and swing dancing later in life. He took up swing dancing to make sure he could dance at his son Jakob’s wedding and insisted on pre-approving the wedding playlist. A few years ago, a friend introduced him to pickleball, and Scott’s life would never be the same. He obsessed over pickleball. He watched videos, read books, attended clinics, took lessons, and practiced practiced practiced. He set up his basement as a training space and converted a tennis ball machine to serve pickleballs, so that he could practice whenever he wanted. He had logs of success or failures and he took diligent notes of what worked and what didn’t. He loved to teach others and would train anyone that was interested in becoming better. He was a local unofficial ambassador for the sport and truly loved pickleball on and off the court.
He was preceded in death by his wife Victoria (Pillifant) Fowler in 2014 after her brave battle with cancer, his parents, Clint Fowler and Mavis (Vietor) Fowler and his sister, Patricia Fowler.
Scott is survived by his three children, Madison Fowler (Jake Stevens) of High Ridge, MO, Jakob (Prajakta) Fowler of Bothell, WA, Dr. James Fowler (William Hines) of Palm Springs, CA; his brother, Randall Fowler of Edgewater, FL; Scott’s partner Susan Nakano of Schaumburg, IL; and a host of beloved friends, pickleball partners, and co-workers.
A celebration of Scott’s life will be held from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at one of his favorite pickleball spots, Des Peres Park Pavilion, on Wednesday August 19, 2020 located at 12325 Manchester Rd., Des Peres, Missouri.
In his remembrance, the Scott Fowler Defibrillator Fund (https://www.gofundme.com/f/scott-fowler-defibrillator-fund) has been set up with the goal of installing defibrillators at one or more of the parks where Scott regularly played pickleball. The family hopes for this to be his legacy and gift to the local community to help save lives.
We are very saddened to have lost such a pleasant personality, soon after he became a part of our extended family with Jakob and Prajakta’s wedding last year. We are thankful for even the brief time we knew him. His quiet confidence and pleasant personality leaves a big hole in the hearts and minds of all who knew him. Our heartfelt condolences to the extended Fowler family.
I have only seen Scott on a few occasions but I met him through my daughter Susan’s eyes as a kind, loving, intelligent and wonderful man. If a man does not die until the last person who remembers him dies then Scott will live for a long time. My condolences go out to his family and all my love to my Susie.
We are so sad to hear of Scott’s passing. Randy called my dad, George Vietor, who then relayed the message onto me.
George is Mavis’s younger brother, but he’s 94 now. His wife, Audrey, passed away on January 24, 2020,from a stroke. She was 90.
The family has our sincere sympathy. Our son, Tommy, came out by train w his Grandpa George to visit Mavis. Probably around 1994. According to George, Tommy got to know Jimmy and Jake on that visit.
Our prayers are with you as you remember Scott at your memorial service.
Holly
Scott was a true gentleman. I always looked forward to playing pickleball with him and the great conversations we would have after playing.
You are deeply missed Scott. Craig and I will always think of you every time we play. Rest easy our dear friend.
Scott, you are missed already. It won’t be the same not seeing you on the court. You were a great partner and a wonderful person. I feel blessed to have gotten to know you if only for a short time. Rest In Peace dear friend. What’s the score?
Our most sincere condolences to your family. We had the pleasure of getting to know Scott between games of pickleball, learning about his love of musicals, his life in northern Illinois, and a few of the exploits of his kids. He was such a gentle, kind, inclusive man. We are so sorry for your loss.
Scott was a very special person. He always challenged himself and of course, always succeeded and had fun with it too. I was with him on his 65th birthday and he loved his life. It was a horrible and sad when he passed and way too soon. RIP dear Scott
Scott was my everything! He was such a inspiration to so many! We enjoyed so many hours together playing Pickleball and just talking. He was a great, kind and sincere man and touch so many people lives.
I can’t help but miss him the rest of my life but I do have a piece of him so he can continue playing the sport that we love.
I miss him and I know he’s is resting in peace.
I met Scott about 20 years ago as we worked together on a large landfill gas-to-energy project. Since that time Scott and I would regularly run into each other at different events or on various projects. He was very knowledgeable and always way ahead of his time. His creative thought process made him a highly sought after expert and an amazing troubleshooter. He could talk about data and chemistry behind everything he did. But most of all, Scott was honest and genuine, always had a good story to tell, and will be greatly missed.
Scott was a good man and dear friend to many. I will remember Scott as the person who was always looking to help the person who needed a hand. That quality made him very popular among his co-workers and a long list of proteges. His humble demeanor and humor defined his personal style, and in the end, out shined his great contributions to the waste industry. He will be missed.
I worked with Scott for many years. I treasured his friendship. His guidance and the precious time he spent mentoring me, quite simply changed my life. Rarely a day goes by that I don’t utilize some nugget of wisdom or bit of humor he shared with me. Thank you can never be enough.
Hardly knew Scott as I only played a handful of games with or against him. But unlike many players who I struggle to remember, he was a stand out on the court. Besides being a remarkable player, he was also a mentor partner and respectful opponent. Qualities that we will all most certainly miss, but we could try to follow in his mindful footsteps.
Deeply saddened to learn that our good friend, Scott Fowler, has left for his heavenly abode. It was Prajakta and Jakob’s wedding that brought our families together. The few occasions on which we met him, Scott has left a memorable impression on our minds and very pleasant memories in our hearts. We remember Scott as a passionate and versatile person with very wide interests, ranging from the landfill chemistry and horses to all kinds of sports (especially pickleball), and from novel architecture to theatre, cinema and paintings. It is hard to believe that we will never see him again. May his soul rest in peace! We convey our condolences to the bereaved family and friends and pray to God to give courage and strength to all his near and dear ones, to brave and overcome this untimely loss. Scott, we will truly miss you forever.
Scott was great to work with. He had a fantastic combination of calmness and being direct at the same time. His knowledge and ability to get things done were greatly admired. His timely sense of humor was fantastic. We are all blessed to have been a part of his life and he will be greatly missed.
I was fortunate to meet Scott early in my career. Didn’t take long to realize he was both a wealth of knowledge and a really good person. He always made time to talk and help me understand something new. 25+ years later I’m still reaping the benefits of those talks with him. As others have stated, he was humble and approachable and was always good for a laugh. He will be missed.
Deeply saddened to learn that our good friend, Scott Fowler, has left for his heavenly abode. It was Prajakta and Jakob’s wedding that brought our families together. We remember Scott as a passionate and versatile person with very wide interests, ranging from the landfill chemistry to all kinds of sports (especially pickleball), and from novel architecture to theatre, cinema and paintings. It is hard to believe that we will never see him again. May his soul rest in peace! We convey our condolences to the bereaved family and friends and pray to God to give courage and strength to all his near and dear ones, to brave and overcome this untimely loss. Scott, we will truly miss you forever.
I fist met Scott at Sunset Tennis. He was a blast to play with, we talked about other places to play and he helped me with a few of my shots. He always had a smile on his face and a song coming out him. Even on the Pickleball court he was singing! He took his play seriously, but always had a good time. I will miss him greatly and my heartfelt condolences go out to his family. Scott touched so many with his love of Pickleball, his memory will be carried in many hearts. Peace.
I had the pleasure of working with Scott on several LFG projects in the Northeast. Scott was very knowledgeable and had lots of great ideas. I will never forget his infectious laugh and some of his stories would bring you to tears. Terrible loss and my condolences to the entire Fowler family. Rest in peace brother.
I first met Scott in the early 1980’s. Along with Ken Johnson, Scott, and myself we formed the Waste Management Landfill Gas Test Crew. We travelled to a number of WM sites studying landfill gas production and generation curves. During this time the three of us formed a friendship that was never broken. I can go on and on about stories but at the end of the day Scott was there to make use laugh after a bad day or share in a few successes. Over the years we still kept in touch discussing a little bit about LFG or sports or family. I remember the recent introduction he gave me about Pickle Ball. This came after I mentioned “that’s the game they play over at Dell Webb retirement village” well to say the least I was given the history of Pickle Ball. But that was Scott at his best, the ability to make you laugh and rush to google some fact he just mentioned (he was usually right !). We always hear the expression ” play it forward” Scott exemplified this to the utmost degree. Scott took his experiences gained from those test crew days and taught the next generation of landfill gas experts. We have all benefited from those experiences; and the industry has benefited from this investment. Thank you Scooter for being my friend, coworker, mentor, and pickle ball hero.
Scott taught me everything I needed to learn to forge out a 33yr career with waste management. He is my most unforgettable character. I can’t begin to share the innumerable memories, quotes, and moments I shared with this man. He was a defining influence in my life and he will be missed.
Scott and I worked together in the early 80’s on the Waste Management “test crew” along with Bill Meyer under Mike Rodgers, living and working in close quarters as we traveled from landfill to landfill in a motor home. We formed a lifelong bond as Scott was easy to befriend. We shared many things including a birthday right down to the year. I would send him a card and he would scratch off my name, sign his, and send it back. It’s always the little things you remember when someone close passes. Here are some I recall fondly.
He loved dogs and would always stop to pet one. He wore his long-johns until July. He loved Sam Shepard plays, books, and was an avid movie buff. He once told me,”if it weren’t for movie quotes, I wouldn’t have anything to say”. Hah! He made great home-made English toffee. He loved his local County fair. He loved the songs “Blue Moon” and the Jackson Brown version of “Stay” and he would hurt my ears trying to sing the high part. He mad fun of my coat and later I made fun of his ridiculous pony tail. We laughed a lot and those were good times. My sincere condolences go out to everyone who lost him as a friend as I understand your loss, especially to Madison, Jake and James. You can all be proud of him as he was the best.
Scott was a mentor and a friend to me for many years and I can only echo the heartfelt memories that others have shared, everything I know about getting gas out of a landfill I learned from him and that knowledge has lead me down this long road. When I get a chance to mentor or instruct a new technicians, I hear his voice in my head and hope I can guide people half as well as he did me so long ago. Once he left “mother Waste” we did not talk as much but still would reach out to each other from time to time and catch up. He was a great friend and person, R.I.P. Scooter.
Scott was not only a great pickleball player, but a truly special person. The first time I went to Dwight Davis as a beginner to observe play, he kindly and graciously invited me to play with him even after I warned him I was a complete and total rookie. How many advanced players do that? He was extremely patient, encouraging and generous with helpful tips. It was pure pleasure each time I had the chance to play with him. Our conversations between games were always interesting and fun. It was obvious how smart and multifaceted he was. The love and pride he had in his family was clearly evident, and his zest and joy for life was contagious. It was an honor and privilege to know him. He will be dearly missed and always remembered with great fondness.
I met Scott early in my landfill career at Waste Energy Technology, he had the tall task of teaching me how to optimize a gas collection system. Always a patient instructor, our conversations more often than not veered off into other subjects. We talked about a breadth of topics, from Edgar Cayce to backgammon to religion to tennis! He told me my dog was “too fat and needed to have a few ribs showing”. Every time I thought I knew a lot about something, he always knew more and was willing to share.
I remember distinctly the first time I met him in NJ he had on thick, fuzzy wool socks and sandals, and long hair…pretty much an alien in context!
I credit Scott (along with the rest of our team) with giving me the tools I needed for not only a successful 20 year landfill career, but also a successful life. I owe a debt of gratitude to Scott and I’m grateful I had the opportunity to thank him that the last time we talked a few years back.
Scott was my pickleball pal-
My text just a few days before Scott’s passing:
“ Thanks for being so welcoming. Nice people are what make pickleball what it is”
Scott’s text response: “And “enthusiastic”people make it wonderful! Great playing on a cranky hip. Hope you wake up feeling ok”
This was Scott. He remembered the details about you others wouldn’t catch. The “enthusiastic” bit was referring to a joke I was a part of a whole year prior! His great memory and concern for every single pickleball player added to the culture of the game. Scott naturally made you feel cared about and worth teaching. I will miss Scott and do my best to carry on his tradition of kindness.
I met Scott playing pickleball at Maryland Heights Community Center. I was new to the sport and he taught me how to play the game with respect and honor. He was a great guy to be around both on and off the court. We created a group text message to play all around the St. Louis area.
My sympathies to his family regarding your loss. God bless you all.
Rest well my friend.
Scott and I met at ballwin. He always would set me up for perfect overhead smashes and when I would miss them he would build me up and say his little tune of do do do and shrug it off. He was the definition of a gentleman on and off the court.
He recently taught my girlfriend as I was glad they could meet 5 days before his passing
Our condolences to him and his family.
JScott Im am shocked and saddened to learn of your passing. I know you wouldnt have wanted it any other way… as the cowboy that you were “fade to black” as you use to tell me! “Just like the end of the movies” you loved! May you be in the arms of your parents, sister and Victoria. Until…