Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Howard was my first cousin. His father (Brainard) was my father’s brother. I first met Howard in about 1961 or 1962 when he came to visit us while I was still in high school. At the time, he had a 1957 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 convertible which, being a typical teenaged car buff, I thought was super “cool”. He even let me drive it-cooler still! I got to know Howard when I lived in the D.C. area working for the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office as he was often at my brother’s house in Reston, Va. Over the years our lives diverged, however, and we lost touch. I last saw him at my mother Grace’s funeral in Elizabeth City, N. C. I always marveled at his knowledge and recall of our family’s genealogy. I only just learned of Howard’s death but belatedly offer my condolences to his wife, Bonnie, and their children. I know he is at home with the father of us all.
