John K. "Jack" HOWELL

Howell - John K. "Jack"
John "Jack" Keller Howell, 93, died peacefully on March 22, 2023 in Amherst, NY. John had a 37-year career at Praxair/Linde in Tonawanda before retiring in 1995. He became the Chief Engineer overseeing the development of plants that produced industrial gases used in diverse applications including steel production, sewage treatment, science, medicine and NASA space missions. His work occasionally took him to plant locations across the country as well as Brazil and France. He became a licensed professional engineer and was granted two US patents. Jack enjoyed commuting to work by bicycle when possible.John was born on January 8, 1930 in Rochester, NY and nicknamed Jack by his parents. He was the youngest of three brothers. In school he was placed in a combined fourth and fifth grade class and mastered subjects from both grades in the same year. As a result, he skipped fifth grade and advanced into the same class as his older brother, David. The brothers graduated high school together and remained close. Jack began competitive swimming at a YMCA and later joined his high school swim team. In his senior year he won the sectional championship for the 100-yard butterfly stroke. A Cornell University swimming coach helped secure his admission into the mechanical engineering program to ensure Jack joined their team. He continued to compete in US Masters Swimming events until age 75 and accumulated an impressive collection of metals and ribbons. Jack participated in the Navy ROTC program while attending Cornell. He toured the world aboard Navy ships during college summers, graduated in 1952 and served as a Navy officer until 1955. Jack met his future wife, Elizabeth "Betty" Meng at Cornell and they were married in 1957. He later earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering from SUNY Buffalo. He was a member of Mensa and frequently challenged himself to cross-word and math puzzles. In their retirement years, Jack and Betty participated in more than 30 Road Scholar learning adventures. Jack enriched the lives of his children by introducing them to various activities including: Skiing, sledding, swimming, biking, seeing museums, parades and Fourth of July fireworks. He and his is family enjoyed numerous week-long vacations including Finger Lakes cottage stays, winter skiing adventures, camping trips and Atlantic seashore experiences. As an avid reader, he frequently read aloud to his young kids and later grand kids. Jack coached youth softball, served as the Waterfront Director at a summer Boy Scout camp, got up early winter mornings to take a son to hockey practice and transformed his backyard into a neighborhood skating rink. He helped design a soapbox derby racer and took his daughter to tour college campuses, including Cornell, where he was proud that she ultimately attended. John is preceded in death by his parents George and Susan, brother Jerry and grandson James Patrick Pritchard. He is survived by his brother David, wife Elizabeth, four children Bruce, Jenny, Thomas, Steven (Sarah McClennen) and two grand children Katherine (Pritchard) Manhardt and Laura Pritchard. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.