Joseph Patrick Howard

Howard, Joseph Patrick

Joseph Patrick Howard, an Irish Catholic son of the Bronx, devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, died peacefully on Friday, Jan. 31, with his wife of 54 years, Ann (Smyth) Howard, by his side. He was 81. A proud U.S. Air Force veteran who served his country during the Korean War, he worked for more than three decades for IBM and later the Department of Veterans Affairs. In his retirement, he traveled with his wife to the shrines at Medjugorje and to the Ireland of his heritage. His deep belief in education, fostered among his children and grandchildren, was further evidenced when, in his 60s, he returned to school and received a Master's degree in Finance from Manhattan College to go with his earlier diploma from St. John's University. Born in Washington Heights on Oct. 9, 1932 to John and Catherine Howard, he moved to the Bronx at age 12 and was a graduate of Cardinal Hayes High School. He was a parishioner at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Shrub Oak since moving to Yorktown, N.Y. in 1967. He was an avid painter of scenic watercolors and also enjoyed photography, classical music and writing. His novel, "The Tribe," published in 2009, illustrated what it was like to grow up Irish Catholic in the post-War Bronx. Besides his wife, he is survived by a sister, Frances (James); his seven children, Eileen (Craig), Cathi (Raul), Anthony (Alison), Mary Beth (Joseph), Claire (Martin), Teresa (Peter) and Brian (Kristen); 19 grandchildren and countless friends. His children will always remember his unquestioning dedication to his family, his expansive knowledge of a broad array of topics, his generosity of spirit and deed and his unfailing love of making others laugh. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Medical Mission Sisters, 8400 Pine Road, Philadelphia, PA 19111.