Rest in peace, Howie

[agate]

Howie's sister reports that our Howie has passed away.

She would like to thank all of us here for being such good friends to him.

This place just won't be the same without him. I've "known" him since 2001 and have lost a good friend.

[Ikoiko]

Oh no, how sad.

[Virginia]

I was so afraid of hearing this. I am pretty sure he was here when I came in 1999. I am so sad. I wish we could have done more. Agate, thank you for notifying his sister. There is no telling how long he had been deceased.

[Ikoiko]

I looked for a news article in Virginia and couldn’t find anything. Did his sister give any details?

[Virginia]

Ikoiko, he lived somewhere close to Danville, Va. I am not sure how far it was because he indicated he was not real close to any city, but Danville was the closest. If you can keep an eye on that area it would be appreciated. I am not sure it will be in the paper because he said he didn't know anyone there.

[agate]

No details so far. I think his sister just learned this some time yesterday and may not have had time to sort out all the details.

[Virginia]

He also had a brother, but he did not live close by. Some years ago he was diagnosed with a bad illness, but I can't remember what it was. For a long time he called Howie every Friday night, but I haven't heard Howie mention him in quite some time. Do you know anything about him Agate?

[agate]

I don't know anything about the brother except that Howie occasionally mentioned seeing him. There was a nephew too? But I don't know if that was the brother's son or the sister's son.

Edited to add: I've indicated to the sister that we here are so shocked by this news that we're wondering what happened, but I wouldn't be surprised if she's too overwhelmed to feel like discussing it with someone she's never met.

[Snuggles]

Shocked and saddened.

[Virginia]

The nephew is the sisters son, so I would guess that his last name is the same as the sister.

[Mike Weins]

Rest in peace Howie :(

[agate]

Thank you, Snuggles and Mike.

Mike, I don't know what has happened to Howie's cat Sam but if I find out anything, your advice might be asked as I believe you're very involved in animal rescue...?

I keep hoping that his sister found Sam alive and will be able to give Sam a home.

[Virginia]

Lets keep bumping this for awhile in case some members are coming around and also if there is any more news about arrangements or anything we can post.

[agate]

Good idea. People do drop by and look in.

[Virginia]

After discussing this with Agate and getting his sister's name from her I sent Howie's sister message today. I told her that we all wanted to extend our condolences to her, his brother and all the family. I also told her, in case she didn't know he wanted his brain to be donated to Rocky Mountain MS Center if it was not too late. I gave her the phone number there.

I told her that many of us had known Howie for 20 to 22 years and that we were in contact with him throughout all that time.. I said it is difficult to know someone that long without feeling a big loss. I told her if there was any information she felt she could share about his death and the arrangements that we would appreciate it. I also told her that Howie loved his cats, especially the last one Sam and we were hoping she was able to make it through this. I told her that Howie was a nice person and a kind man with a good sense of humor and a keen mind.


So I received a reply this evening and I am copying it below:

Virginia thank you for the kind words about Howard. Being able to talk and share with you and all the others was very important to him.

I was aware that he wanted his brain donated but the circumstances of his death prevented this from happening.

His wishes were to be cremated and to not have a service. We are going to honor his request.

I want to thank each of you for being such an important part of his life.

God Bless,
(Name)


Maybe Agate will get another message from her that will contain some information about his cat, Sam. I guess she has too much going on right now to answer every question, or as much as I hate to say this Sam might not have made it, and maybe she just didn't want to say it.