Howard J. LaPorte

NASONVILLE - Howard J. LaPorte, 77, of Nasonville, passed away on February 13, 2017, at the Overlook Nursing Home. He was the loving husband of Frances (Pepler) LaPorte. He was born in New Hampshire, son of the late Louis & Augusta (Gale) LaPorte.
Howard graduated from the following schools, Burrillville High School, Providence College, with a bachelors degree and the University of Southern ME, with a masters degree. He taught and coached in RI, Block Island, FL, ME and Alaska. A Providence Journal Honor Roll Winner emblematic of the State's top student athlete selected as a High School Football All-American by Sporting News. A three time winner of the Leonard J Roberts trophy which was awarded to the MVP of the Burrillville - Woonsocket football game played on Thanksgiving Day back in the day. Coming out of high school, Howie was heavily recruited in both football and hockey by major college programs. He opted to play football at UCONN, because he was attracted by its highly regarded academic program in Physical Therapy. In his freshman year at UCONN, he sustained a concussion. The injury led to his withdrawal from school. After sitting out a year, Howard transferred to Providence College. He became a member of the Providence College hockey team, where he was coached by former Burrillville coach/superintendent/principle, Tom Eccleston Jr. He took a regular turn on the ice, and his PC career culminated with an appearance in college hockey's national championship series, The Frozen Four. After college, Howard became a teacher and coached football at Burrillville. His three season coaching record was a very respectable 17 wins and 8 losses, capped off by a league championship. Perhaps more remarkably, his players earned 34 all-league positions, including two 1st team All Staters. It should be noted that Howard was succeeded as Burrillville football coach by Tom Eccleston lll. In Tom's one and only year as coach, he won the league championship with an 8 - 0 record. Tom always gave credit for his success to Howard, who, Tom said, had developed the talent which Tom inherited. In 2003 Howie as inducted into the Burrillville Hall of Fame for 1959 RI & NE ice hockey champions and in 2008, was inducted to the Burrillville Athletic Hall of Fame.
Besides his wife he is survived his sons, Howard P. Clark of FL, Todd LaPorte of Westerly, RI and Clark LaPorte of Danielson, CT, a daughter, Mary Rief of Griswold, CT, a sister, Gail Senerchia of W. Warwick, also survived by 7 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brother, Joseph LaPointe.
A funeral service will be held Monday at 11:30am in the Keene-Brown Funeral Home 445 Greenville Rd., North Smithfield. Burial in St. Patrick's Cemetery will be held at a later date. Calling hours are prior to the service from 9:00 until 11:30am. www.brownfuneralhomes.com