Obituary of Amy Lindsey McDowell

Amy Lindsey McDowell died on May 14 in her home in Forest Park, Illinois. She was living at home in hospice, and her parents and her sister were with her at the end.

She was born on August 24, 1964, in Rochester, New York, grew up there and in Ohio and New Jersey, and in 1982 graduated from high school in Ridgewood, N J.  She began ballet studies in the second grade, and during her senior year in high school she was accepted by the School of American Ballet in New York City. While working various part-time jobs, she continued at SAB for the next two years and appeared in the school’s annual performances.  In 1985 she enrolled in the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and received her BFA in dance in 1989.  While a student she was an apprentice with the Cincinnati-New Orleans Ballet Company and with Ballet Met of Columbus, Ohio, dancing in the corps and performing character roles in both companies. 

After graduation she taught ballet and ballroom dance in New Jersey and took courses at several local colleges to qualify for admission to a program in physical therapy.  In 1992 she entered Stockton State College in New Jersey and received her BS in physical therapy in 1994. For the next several years she worked as a therapist for several clinics while earning her certificate to teach Pilates and then opened her own Pilates studio. 

In 2000 she moved to Oak Park, Illinois, to work as a physical therapist and a Pilates instructor. She continued her interest in dance by performing with Ballet Legere and Chicago Dance and by competing in ballroom dance contests. Her last employment was with ARC Physical Therapy. 

She is survived by her parents, Alfred and Judith McDowell, of Little Falls, New York; her sister Heather McDowell and Heather’s husband Bryan Wallick, of Athens, Ohio; Bryan’s daughters Zion Everson and Ehryah Carroll (spouse Rachel), and Ehryah’s and Rachel’s daughter Lennon, all of Columbus, Ohio. During her last illness she received strong support from her extended family and friends, especially from friends Michelle DesRoches, Melinda Mills, and Theresa and Peter Nagaro. The family thanks those friends and the physicians and staff members in Rush Medical Center in Chicago for their sensitive attention and care.

A celebration of Amy’s life will be held this summer in a place and at a date to be decided.  Memorial contributions to PAWS of Chicago or another welfare organization would be appropriate.

Arrangements are under the care of Chapman Moser Funeral Home, 42 N. Ann Street, Little Falls, NY 13365.