A Sad Day for the Beat Generation - Beat Hotel Owner Passed Away

[€uroMeinke]

When checking up on our Coachella Hotel Reservations tonight, I learned that Steve Lowe, the proprietor and owner of both the Lautner and Beat Hotel suddenly passed away on the 20th of this month. The Hotel's website carries only the stark message:

Goodbye, Steve. We'll miss you.
Steve Lowe, the owner of the Lautner Motel, died suddenly on January 20, 2007. There will be a memorial service for him in the Desert Hot Springs area. Please check back for the date, time, and location. If you'd like to leave comments in the guestbook, please do.

A friends' blog provides only these details:

My friend Steve Lowe died yesterday. He was having trouble breathing and drove himself to the hospital. His sister got a call from the sheriff - he died at the hospital.

Those of us who went on the Beat Retreat will probably remember this beat original telling tales of of his friendships with William S. Burroughs, Robert Wilson, and other iconic figures of the times. He had a clever wit, hospitality that never quit, and a collection of art and vinyl to make our stays one's of delight and exploration.

I just can't believe how sad this news makes me and how much more I'll cherish the memories of our stays at the Beat. Truly one of the best minds of our generation