ParentMap’s 2023 Superheroes for Washington Kids and Families

On February 6, 2021, Lori and Stephen Markowitz received the single most life-shattering message that any parent could possibly receive: Their precious 27-year-old son Josh (z”l) was the victim of a tragic hit-and-run incident. An impaired driver speeding at more than 100 mph in a 25 mph-per-hour zone struck him down in a crosswalk. Josh sustained a traumatic head injury and passed away a few days later.

The irrefutable fact is that such impaired-driving fatalities, which have become a national crisis, are preventable. The Markowitz family and Washington state Sen. John Lovick are on a mission to end such tragedies.

Lori Markowitz was honored as a ParentMap Superhero in 2015, in recognition of her years of work as the executive director of Youth Ambassadors, a program born during the five-day-long Seeds of Compassion conference held in Seattle in 2008. Emphasizing the teachings of the Dalai Lama, the civic education program was designed and evolved to intentionally foster critical thinking skills, compassionate service, and social and emotional learning for local students. This deeply rewarding focus of Markowitz’s life came to an abrupt halt when Josh died, and she has since turned her commitment toward fighting for laws and solutions that ensure that not one more precious life is needlessly taken away.

“I will personally do whatever I can so that I can still be an advocate, even though I live under a tidal wave of sorrow since my Josh was killed,” says Markowitz.

This mama on a mission discovered an empathetic, energetic and fierce champion in Sen. John Lovick for her cause to advocate for laws and measures to prevent traffic injuries and fatalities. As a former state trooper with more than 30 years on the job, Lovick was emotionally devastated by his duty of knocking on the doors of parents to deliver the news that their child had lost their life in a preventable motor vehicle accident.

“We have no time to waste. I don’t want Josh’s life to be in vain. We can save lives together, and we are not going to forget him,” says Lovick. “These drunk, impaired collisions are preventable. As a community, we stand for what we will tolerate. In 2022, 745 people died on our [Washington state] roads — 370 were DUI-related. Why don’t we have a portable blow [alcohol monitoring device] before your ignition turns on? Think about it: If an airplane went down and every day we lost two people, we’d do something about it. We need to stop tolerating this.”

Lovick reminds us that citizens have power. “Who is your legislator? Get on the phone right now and call them — and encourage your friends to call. Citizens need to tell them: ‘We’ve had it with the lack of action. When are you guys going to do something?’ I don’t care if people get drunk. Just don’t put others at risk because of your behavior. DUIs are literally killing us.”

“Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg graciously sent me a condolence letter, and in it he wrote, ‘Our goal is this: zero. Zero deaths; a country where one day, nobody has to say goodbye to a loved one because of a traffic crash.’ He is absolutely correct. Vision zero, zero deaths. That’s the target, and I want everyone to understand that this is preventable,” says Markowitz.

Who is the person responsible for connecting you two?

Markowitz: King County Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Amy Freedheim introduced me to Sen. Lovick. She told me that he is an extraordinary Washington state traffic safety champion, and I am forever grateful to her for this connection. When I reached out to him, he made it a priority to meet in person with me and my daughter. I will not forget how he looked us both in the eyes and told us he is going to do whatever he can to improve traffic safety. We knew we found someone who had the empathy, experience and skill to lead policy change. You could feel how deeply he cared about the families tragically impacted by traffic violence. Sen. Lovick is a leader with heart.

Have there been other partners along the way who have helped accelerate your efforts?

Lovick: Some of my best partners are other law enforcement organizations as well as orgs like Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. The way we advance traffic safety is by talking and listening to each other. We need to realize that everybody matters, every life matters.

Markowitz: There are many extraordinary people I’ve met who are dedicated to traffic safety issues. Shelly Baldwin, the amazing director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, gave me the confidence to join the executive board of the Washington Impaired Driving Advisory Council, which supports the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

Who is your personal hero and why?

Markowitz: My hero is no doubt my beloved son, Josh. He was an exceptional person, beautiful inside and out. He lost his life at age 27, but did more for the world than most because he was authentic, deep, generous and kind beyond words. And my beautiful daughter, Jessica, who each and every day is doing what she can to honor her big brother.

Lovick: My grandmother Elsie Lee Lovick. She was the granddaughter of a Louisiana slave, and she paid a dear price for the privileges I have now.

What do you hope people will understand about this work?

Lovick: I want people to understand that public service is joy. I was a state trooper for 31 years. I loved going to work, but many days I hated being at work. I ran for office because I was tired of sitting back complaining. I knew if I served in office that I could do something about it, more than just talk.

Markowitz: I wish people would pay attention to the urgency of the current situation. It is a human right to travel safely if you are in a car, walking, cycling, taking a bus, train, plane, etc.

What is one action that our readers could take that will advance your work in traffic safety?

Lovick: The No. 1 thing I would tell new drivers is that we should get a pledge from them to always consider their safety and the safety of others, and that they will never, ever use an electronic device while driving.

Markowitz: Younger drivers are statistically impacted more than any others. It’s critical to ensure they understand the impact of driving under the influence of any substances. A car can be a dangerous weapon if not used properly, just like a gun. Parents need to set a good example with everything in life, but their driving habits are also a way to exemplify how to be a responsible driver.

What daily habit or small routine is most important to you?

Markowitz: I walk 8–12 miles, searching for Josh.

Lovick: I love to walk, and I love to listen to others.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Lovick: To end hatred and racism.

Markowitz: My superpower would be to allow all young people to have a chance to live a full life.

How would you encourage ParentMap readers to take action?

Lovick: Tell your story. We need to hear stories. My favorite line is “Numbers tell, but stories sell.” We need to hear the stories of what’s happening in our communities.

Markowitz: Call your legislators and ask them to support traffic safety policies. Change starts with recognizing the problem. We have to get back to taking care of each other. There’s a high-stakes role and responsibility for us to play as drivers — and the price of our inaction is unbearable. This rising aggression on our roadways is robbing us of the people we love.

How has your family created a place in perpetuity for Josh’s spirit to live on?

Markowitz: We established The Josh Fund to keep his musical legacy alive by facilitating and supporting access and opportunity to the world of music for aspiring musicians. Josh was an extraordinary musician, composer, producer and entrepreneur. He believed that music is transformative, that it can empower the lives of youths, turn dreams into reality. The foundation is providing financial support in the form of scholarships to qualified students pursuing a bachelor’s degree and entering the final years of study at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.

What are you currently reading?

Lovick: After watching the murder of Tyre Nichols, I decided to read books on policing. So, the most recent books I’ve read are: “Policing the Black Man: Arrest, Prosecution, and Imprisonment” [edited by Angela J. Davis], “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” [by Michelle Alexander], “Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable” [by Joanna Schwartz], “The Trayvon Generation” [by Elizabeth Alexander], “Chokehold: Policing Black Men” [by Paul Butler], “Say Their Names: How Black Lives Came to Matter in America” [by Bunn, Cottman, Gaines, Charles and Harriston], “The End of Policing” [by Alex S. Vitale] and “Standoff: Race, Policing, and a Deadly Assault That Gripped a Nation” [by Jamie Thompson]. I’m currently reading “The Black and the Blue: A Cop Reveals the Crimes, Racism, and Injustice in America’s Law Enforcement,” written by a former alcohol, tobacco and firearms agent of my acquaintance, Matthew Horace.

Markowitz: I’m waiting for Colin Campbell’s book “Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss with Hope and Purpose,” which he wrote after his two teenagers were killed instantly when the car his family was driving in was T-boned.

— Alayne Sulkin

Up next: The Social Justice Activists