Papadaddy

My grandfather- the greatest man I've ever known, the brightest star that ever shown, the deepest trust my heart did own.

I'm forever grateful for the countless gifts he gave me, including the our last visit- only 2 weeks ago.

1989-  my little sister and me in San Francisco with our Papadaddy

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Tom Howe died peacefully on April 14, 2013 at the age of 94 in Concord, New Hampshire. At his side were Amy, his devoted daughter and Bev, the love of his life. Born in 1918 in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, Tom was the eldest son of Margaret and Thomas Benton Howe, Sr. He was raised in Woodbury, New Jersey and attended Drexel Institute where he majored in physics and engineering. For over twenty-five years, Tom was in charge of the materials and Chem Lab at Sperry Gyroscope on Long Island. While at Sperry, Tom authored numerous scientific articles and filed many patents for his inventions, including the Ball Bearing Simulator (BSS).

Tom was a Renaissance man and a brilliant visionary. His interests and passions were wide and varied: sailor, scientist, architect, artist, inventor, poet, igloo builder and harmonica player.  He was “a Master of all trades, Jack of none.” (Beverly’s words!) Tom felt so lucky to have lived during a century that spanned such tremendous change, from the invention of airplanes, automobiles and crystal radios to the first moon landing, electric cars and 3D printers.

Tom, together with Bev, designed and hand built a solar heated home which housed the Huntington Cooperative Nursery School in Greenlawn, Long Island, directed by Beverly for over forty years. He was the resident scientist, affectionately called The Wizard of Oswego Drive, who charmed generations of young children by starting fires with flint and steel and tapping all the maple trees in the neighborhood.

Tom is survived by Bev, his wife of seventy years and their three children; Amy and her husband Bart, Jon and his wife Kathy and daughter Nancy, five grandchildren; Maya, Ana, Rick, Cass and Tim, four great grandchildren; Naia, Sylvan, Ayla and Noemi, sisters; Margaret June and Betty Jean, (pre-deceased by brother Happy and sister Susan), cousin Van, sister-in-law Carol and many nieces, nephews and wonderful friends in Greenlawn and at The Harris Hill Center in Concord, New Hampshire. Tom played his harmonica and kept his sense of humor and sweet nature until the very end.

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