John Hamilton Howard

Newport, - John Hamilton Howard Jack, of 51 Second Street, died Wednesday, September 25th at home following a hard-fought battle with cancer.He was the husband of Mary Rowan Belknap Howard and son of the late Arthur W. and Elizabeth Bradford Howard. Born in Seattle June 9, 1915, Mr. Howard grew up in Virginia, Florida and Kentucky. In 1936 he graduated from the University of Kentucky School of Commerce with a bachelors degree in business administration. He was chosen by General Electric Company to be one of the students in their Business Training Course. In December of 1937 he joined the Travelers Insurance Company as a casualty underwriter, a position he held until the beginning of WWII.Commissioned as an Ensign in the Naval Reserves in April of 1942, he served at sea in destroyers until the end of the war. In his first ship, USS RhindDD404, he took part in the invastions of North Africa, Sicily and Italy. His second ship, USS Douglas H. Fox DD 779, fought in the Philippines and at Okinawa, and was heavily damaged by a Kamikaze close to the end of the war.Returning to New York City in 1945, he joined the firm of Rockwood and Co., manufacturers of chocolate and cocoa. In June of 1951, during the Korean War, he was recalled to active duty and based in Newport for duty with destroyers. He returned to civilian life in September 1952 and officially resigned from the U.S. Navy in December of that year.In 1955 he left Rockwood and joined American Cyanamid Co., starting as sales manager of the Fine Chemicals Dept., and ending twenty-two years later as Vice President of International Relations.Upon his retirement from American Cyanamid in 1977 Jack and his wife moved to Newport, and two years later he was named a partner of Slocum, Gordon, Inc., an investment firm handling private and industrial accounts. In 1992 he retired from the business world. Jack was involved in civic affairs his entire live. He was an Eagle Scout and a leader in student government during his college years. He was an usher and vestryman of St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Port Washington, NY, where he and his family lived from 1952-1957. A resident of Princeton, New Jersey, from 1960-1969, he led the building campaign for All Saints Chapel, Trinity Parish 1963 and was elected vestryman in 1965. He was a board member of Springdale Golf Club and a member of the Nassau Club. His activities in Newport include the position of treasurer for the Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation, the Pont Association, and the Church of St. John the Evangelist. He was also president of the Newport Art Museum 1985. He was a member of the Newport Historical Society, the Preservaton Soceity of Newport County, the Newport Art Museum, the Naval War College Foundation, the Naval Order, le Cercle Sportif, and also and Archon of Quindecim. Formerly he was a member of Rotary, the Newport Country Club, the Clambake Club and Ida Lewis Yacht Club. Jack learned to love the game of golf at the age of 12. He developed a superior short game and had a hole in one while on the college team. In Newport in the 1950s he developed his talent for oil painting nurtured by classes at the Newport Art Association. Jack was the family poet. He commemorated gatherings and celebrations with humorous verses.Jack faced death the same way he embraced life, with love for his wife and family, with humor, with grace and with tenacity, a true gentleman. Besides his wife he leaves a son, John H. Howard, Jr., of Port Orchard, WA, a daughter Rowan Howard Morse, of Falmouth, ME, a nephew, John A. Norton, of Annandale, VA, and five grandchildren. His son J. Scott Howard died in 1998.A funeral service will be held at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, 61 Poplar St., Newport, Monday, September 30, 202, at 11 a.m.Donations may be made to the Church of St. John Bell Fund, 61 Poplar St., Newport, RI 02840 or to the Visiting Nurse Service of Newport and Bristol Counties, 21 Chapel St., Newport, RI 02840.