Al Harvie heard Dr. Bernard Lown speak at Bates College’s commencement 24 years ago. He was so impressed that a boy who escaped the Holocaust and grew up in Lewiston could help end the Cold War and save thousands of lives developing the defibrillator.

“I tried to do research to find out, what have we done to honor this man? And it turns out we hadn’t,” Harvie said.

He hasn’t stopped talking about Lown since.

Last spring, the retired Auburn teacher caught Lewiston Mayor Larry Gilbert’s ear.

“I told him the story, like I tell everybody,” said Harvie. He included a full-on pitch: We ought to rename South Bridge the Dr. Bernard Lown Peace Bridge.

To Harvie, Lown helped unify the United States and former Soviet Union. The South Bridge unifies the two cities.

The symbolism was there.

Gilbert liked it. So did Auburn Mayor John Jenkins. Both city councils will be asked for support next Tuesday. If everyone’s on board, they’ll petition the Legislature to change the name of the state-owned bridge.

“I’ll be honest with you, most people didn’t know someone from our community had achieved such great heights and notoriety,” Jenkins said.

Lown, 86, told Gilbert he would be honored.

Born in Lithuania, he moved to Lewiston when he was 12 or 13 to live with his uncle, Phillip Lown. Phillip owned the Lown Shoe Shop in Auburn, where The Barn is now.

Bernard Lown graduated from Lewiston High School, then the University of Maine, then John Hopkins University School of Medicine.

In 1960 he was one of the founders of Physicians for Social Responsibility. Then, in 1980, Lown and Soviet Professor Eugueni Chazov founded International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. Using data on burns and radiation injuries from Japan, the group studied what could happen if nuclear war broke out between the U.S. and U.S.S.R, from a medical perspective, according to the IPPNW’s history.

They determined neither side could win. People listened.

In 1985, Lown and Chazov received the Nobel Peace Prize for their work.

“He’s up there with Jimmy Carter and Mother Teresa,” Harvie said.

Lown also founded two other organizations, SATELLIFE and ProCOR, which provide health information and assistance to developing countries.

Bates College awarded Lown an honorary degree in 1983. UMaine has a humanitarian award named after him.

Lown is professor of cardiology emeritus at the Harvard School of Public Health. Gilbert said Lown’s working on his latest book, due out in April. He couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.

Jenkins said the change could acknowledge and inspire. Kids reading about Lown might start thinking, “Wow, I could do that.”

The bridge’s current name has been driven by geography: It is south of what used to be called the North Bridge, which connects the two downtowns and was later renamed for the late Gov. James Longley.

If South Bridge gets renamed, Harvie sees making a community event of it. Ribbon-cuttings, receptions, marching bands, the works.

“I’ve told (Lown’s) story to about everybody I know,” Harvie said. “When it comes out, they’re going to say, ‘Oh, Al finally talked to the right person.'”

Saving lives, encouraging peace

For more on Dr. Bernard Lown and his life, go to http://www.hno.harvard.edu/gazette/1999/02.11/lown.html