Howard "Tahoe" Andrew

1934 - 2021

Howard "Tahoe" Andrew
August 15, 1934 - January 12, 2021
Poker legend Howard "Tahoe" Dewey Andrew, 86, of Walnut Creek, CA, passed away Jan. 12, 2021, after a month-long battle at San Francisco Kaiser, to regain strength after heart surgery. He was known as a gentleman, a prankster, a true competitor, and loving son, brother, step-dad, granddad, cousin, uncle and most of all dear friend to so many.

His greatest passion in life was Poker, accumulating over 60 years of awards, world-wide and televised attention, and respect from the greater poker community. Tributes have poured in across the internet. A two-time World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner, "Tahoe" is also recognized for holding the record for longest consecutive WSOP tournament appearances, 45 years. Howard was inducted into The Seniors World Championship of Poker Hall of Fame in 2007. He could be seen almost every day at SF Bay Area and California/Nevada poker rooms, always sporting his trademark white Bay 101 Casino hat. He also enjoyed dozens of Card Player Cruises to all corners of the earth. Tahoe's nickname was earned as he refined his early poker skills while living in Lake Tahoe. "Shuffle up and deal" were his favorite words.

Howard and his twin brother Robert David Andrew (deceased 2007), were born in Hollywood, CA on August 15, 1934 to mother Sibyl Lucille Grimes Andrew Fisher (1905-2000) and father Robert Dewey Andrew. His mother was a retired drafting supervisor at Pacific Tel & Tel engineering department in Berkeley and former model and beauty queen, winning the Miss Berkeley contest in 1924 & 1926. She was runner up for the Miss California contest held in Santa Cruz, CA in 1926. Her deep interest in all things Hollywood led her to enroll the infant twins in two Hollywood films, "Reckless" 1935 with Jean Harlow, and "Last Days of Pompeii" 1935 with Preston Foster.

Howard graduated from Acalanes High School, Lafayette, CA, in 1952 and was All-County defensive halfback on the Dons Varsity Football team. He attended East Contra Costa Junior College for a time, then received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Math from San Francisco State College in 1961 (contrary to his Facebook education post: "Studied at Reform School"). He was a retired industrial engineer from General Motors in Fremont, CA.

Howard was divorced in 1979 after a brief marriage to Marilyn Reeve, yet was blessed with 3 adoring step-daughters for the rest of his life. Sandy (Peter) Goetz of Mill Valley, CA; Kristine (Rob) Ruzich of Danville, CA; Sue (Fabrizio) Balestri of Cardiff By The Sea; and eight grandchildren.

Howard is also survived by nephew Rob Andrew, Jr. (Lisa Ramsey) of Gilbert, AZ and niece Lisa Andrew Richardson (Christopher) of Spokane, WA; cousins Kathleen Findlay Cerenio (Jim) of Waikoloa, HI and Ellen Findlay Herdegen (Jerry) of Concord, CA.

Services are postponed until it is safe for a memorial gathering.