Jill Edie Hochlowski

Jill Edie Hochlowski of Lake Forest, Illinois, passed away surrounded by her family in Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois at 70 years of age (March 13, 1956- July 31, 2026).

Jill was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and grew up in Plymouth before attending Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. Following her undergraduate studies, she pursued graduate education and research in Chemistry at the University of California in San Diego including her work at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. She earned her PhD in Chemistry in 1983 at the age of 26.

Dr. Hochlowski’s doctoral thesis, Secondary Metabolites from Some Marine Gastropods, reflected an early interest in natural products that would shape her career. She devoted her life to scientific research and drug discovery at Abbott Laboratories in Abbott Park, Illinois, where she held the position of Senior Lead Research Scientist. A colleague shared that, “From the Abbott perspective, she amazed her coworkers with her ability to innovate in three distinct fields of study: natural products, combinatorial chemistry, and analytical chemistry.” She was named as an inventor on thirteen United States patents, and she was listed as a collaborator on 120 additional projects. She published 32 scientific papers and presented at conferences all over the world.

Jill was an adventurous spirit who enjoyed hiking, kayaking, breeding racehorses (including an offspring of Native Dancer) and even dog sledding to camp out in the wilderness. She enjoyed diving in California, the Sea of Cortez, and New Guinea. Jill’s great love of travel led her to many unique destinations. She avidly donated to many causes, among them the Cancer Society, Vietnam Veterans, and more. She is survived by two sisters, Denise Lorenz (Thomas) of Conroe, Texas and Jana Conger of Brooklyn, Michigan, nieces and nephews Eric Lorenz (Betsy), Alicia Maturen (Rob), Heather Lorenz Wong, and Bryan Conger (Rachel), and great nieces and nephews Alex Lorenz, Donovan Conger, Marni Lorenz, Meadow Maturen, Lena Lorenz, Trinity Maturen, Zoey Conger, Zachary Conger and many cousins.

Jill will be laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery, Plymouth, Michigan by Schrader-Howell Funeral Home on Saturday, August 15. The family will meet at 280 Main St. at the funeral home and then move on to the Riverside at 10:00am. A Celebration of Jill’s Life will be held at Bryan and Rachel Conger’s home at 1050 Oakcrest Rd., Howell, Mi. Please join us there.