Gregory Frederick Howell

My adventure on earth began when I landed in the arms of Mabel and Everett in Springfield, New Jersey and promptly kicked my sister Joan out at my mother’s favorite child status. I’m not sure about astrology, but I can’t deny I was born of water.. and my first adventures were water sports – motor boating and sail boat racing. I went on to row my through the University of Tampa where I attended college on scholarship as a member of the rowing team.

I found adventure in anything that moves. That grew into adventures in flying . I bussed tables to take flying lessons in high school and got my pilots’ license when I was sixteen. I graduated when the draft for the war in Vietnam was at its peak, and I enlisted in the Navy to become a fighter pilot only to be grounded by an automobile accident when I was 19. I probably kept me from being marched through the streets of DaNang for which I am eternally grateful. Later, cars became a big part of my life as I restored vintage cars and did some racing. Porsches became my favored car and was the last car I owned.

Always looking for adventure, I joined the Amtrak police force in Washington DC and rose to the rank of Captain overseeing the South East Division of Amtrak. During my thirty years with them, I provided security for five inaugural balls, for Senator Joe Biden to catch the train home each night and for Henry Kissinger when he caught the train to New York.

My most harrowing adventure came on 9/11 when I was beginning my day with the Washington DC Metro Police Department and watch the planes hit the twin towers and then the Pentagon. That day, I had to secure all railways into DC as all of the planes were grounded and people needed to leave town. Later, I was assigned to deter terrorist attacks on the Amtrak system nationally, was imbedded with the FBI in a secret location for six months, and served on the Anti-terrorism Task Force.

Perhaps my greatest adventure was not professional, but personal. My life changed dramatically when I met and fell in love with Joan Martenot and her three children. Marrying her and adopting her children changed my life. I morphed into a dad, coaching little league and soccer, leading boy scout troops, building soap box derby race cars and more. Witnessing what incredible adults they are fills me with great pride for who they have become; they are my proudest accomplishment.

I was predeceased by Joan after 45 years of marriage. I leave behind my daughter, Angie (Mike) Scully and two sons, Joe (Jacqueline) and David as well as my grandchildren, Catey, Jake (Lainey), Liam, Jackson and James.

That wasn’t the end of my adventure. One of the scariest… maybe my last…was signing up for on-line dating. I wasn’t looking for love- just someone to accompany to the movies and out to dinner. It was a risk – I had a physical disability. I had my larynx removed because I had throat cancer and couldn’t talk. But fate paired me with someone who was fluent in sign language. Carolyn became my companion and partner, but more importantly, we both found love a second time.

I’d like to thank my doctors and therapists who took such great excellent care of me, especially Dr. Lisa Clement and the nurses and staff of Serenity House Hospice. My friends at Trinity Episcopal Church were incredibly supportive and true friends while I was in hospice and I am grateful to them.

*In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to VNA Health and designate it for Serenity House*. www.vna.health