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Leonard H. Howard, 87
Industrial engineer was noted for his community service
Leonard H. Howard, 87, of North Truro, died June 18 surrounded by family in his home.
Born in 1920, in Bayonne, N.J., Len spent most of his life in the hardware business, starting as a youngster, in his grandfather’s store. During WW II, he worked for the Air Materiel Command of the Air Force, putting his industrial engineering degree from the University of Pennsylvania to good use.
He married the former Judith Schaffer in 1945 and made his home in West Orange, N.J., where he continued to live until 1999 when he retired to Truro. He and Judy had two children, Susie Howard, of Eastham, and the late Chuck Howard, of Bedford.
After the war, Len became an expert in industrial cutting and joined Hyde Tools, representing the company to the hardware industry. He soon established his own company, Technical Supply, to import tiny hobs used for cutting the involute gears needed for mechanical timing devices while continuing to represent Hyde to industrial manufacturers. His unique ability to configure tools and blade edges for specific use made him a friend and much-needed asset for his clients.
Len’s commitment to collaboration was experienced by many. As president, board chair, board member, committee member or participant, he was never strident or dictatorial. He used persuasion, backed by good information, as his most powerful sales tool for change.
Len won many awards for community service, among them the Hannah G. Solomon Award for Services to Children and Youth, Citation for Meritorious Service from President Johnson’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, Citations for Outstanding Contribution to Minority Economic Development by both the National and New Jersey Interracial Council for Business Opportunity, and a Citation for his Zeal and Effort on behalf of Citizens and Employees of Essex County in promoting Fiscal Responsibility, Moral Support and Integrity to this Pension Fund. Several years ago, Mr. Howard was nominated as a Truro Treasure.
If you ask anyone in the towns of the Lower Cape what comes to mind when they hear the name Leonard Howard, it’s his warmth, sincerity, a smile and “Hello, friend.” He loved finding ways to make connections. He initiated a weekly men’s conversation group at the Council on Aging as a forum for discussion of issues ranging from politics to development, from health care to car care; he participated in the Laughing Lifters, an exercise class at the COA where his responsibility clearly fell to keeping them laughing. The two groups presented him with a plaque to be installed in Truro’s new Senior Center that honors him for “his leadership, intelligence, wit and charm.”
Len became an ardent hobbyist after buying his house in Truro in 1977. After taking a “found” metal course at Castle Hill, he created the large outdoor junk sculptures displayed throughout his grounds, getting most of his raw materials from the town dump. He also became an avid antique tool collector, focusing on items that 17th and 18th century farmers and tradesmen made for themselves to solve practical problems. He gave a large portion of his tool finds to the Truro Historical Society.
Len served on the Truro Partnership, the town building committee and Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill. A real delight came from working on the town’s recycling committee, where he was able to use some of his old business connections to forge a relationship between recycled paper from Truro and the need for bulk paper in industry.
Len saw the good in everyone and made everyone feel at home. He opened the world for all to see more, to think more and to be more.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Judy; his daughter, Susie, and her husband, Lloyd; his daughter-in-law, Lee Vorderer, and son-in-law, Bob Bass, of Bedford; five grandchildren, Harlen, Aaron and Jillian, of Eastham, Derek and his wife, Lorena, of Tucson, Ariz., Keith and his wife, Katie, of Flagstaff, Ariz.; seven great-grandchildren, Ashley, Shawn, Michael, Amber, Amanda, Samantha and Devin, all of Arizona; and his sister, Rhoda Kagan, of Caldwell, N.J. Also surviving are the three wonderful women, Jeanne Dore, Suzanne Nickerson and Isabel Robinson, who helped keep him out in the world these past few years when he was no longer physically able to do so independently.
A memorial service, at which there was standing room only, was held June 22 at Pamet Harbor Yacht Club, Truro. Instead of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Friends of the Truro Council on Aging, Box 1011, Truro, MA 02666.
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Herbert L. Wood, 93
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Jun 26th, 2008