Howard Losea, pictured above, died peacefully with family at his side Dec. 8 at the Holyoke Soldiers Home in Holyoke, Mass..
Born in Queens NY on April 17, 1924, Howard was the only child of Charles Henry Losea and Emma De Garmo Losea. During his childhood he shared his parents and home with two foster children, Marion and Bill. Howard attended schools in Valley Stream on Long Island and was active in Boy Scouting. He graduated from Valley Stream Central High School.
Howard enlisted in the Coast Guard, rising to the rank of Motorman Machinest Mate, 2nd Class. His assignments included serving on a picket boat on the Ohio River and transporting the USS Duvall from the city where it had been built on the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico to join the war effort. He also served on the Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell, patrolling the Delta area near New Orleans LA. Howard was honorably discharged in 1945
Howard married Anne Linskey, his high school sweetheart, and settled down on Long Island to raise a family. He took courses at C.W. Post College and graduated from Pace College. Howard worked for the Wall Rope Company, located on the site where the World Trade Center waseventually built. After years of commuting into the city by train, he moved his family to Connecticut. He joined the Brownell Company, a
small manufacturer of synthetic twine, as General Sales Manager. He retired from Brownell as President in 1983.
During and after his career Howard was generous with his personal time, volunteering for many organizations. He was active with the local fire department, both as a young man and later after retirement. He was a member and president of the boards of the Old Lyme Visiting Nurse Association and the Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce. As a member of the board of the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library in Old Lyme, he oversaw a major building project at the library. He served many weekend hours with the Old Lyme Marine Patrol and was a member of the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. A long time member of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, he served as Chairman of the Property Committee, Chairman of the Standing Committee, and was elected to the position of Deacon Emeritus. Howard was a member and Chairman of the Old Lyme Planning Commission and the Volunteer Fair Committee. In 1991 he was recognized by the Board of Selectmen as Citizen of the Year.
In later years, after settling in the Northampton, Mass., area to be near his daughter, he volunteered at the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary and served on the board of the Lathrop Community. Howard was ever willing to help others in small ways and contributed financially to many causes. Howard and Anne were members of Edwards Church in Northampton.
Howard took care of his wife Anne as her health deteriorated and after 64 years of marriage, she passed away in 2009. Howard is survived by his son Richard Losea, his wife Pat Losea and their son Thomas in Chesapeake, Va.; his son Steven Losea in Phoenix, Ariz.; and his daughter Diane Roeder and her husband Bill in Florence, Mass., and their daughter Amanda Roeder in Salem, Mass.
Howard’s life will be celebrated in a memorial service at 2 p.m., Dec. 22, at Edwards Church in Northampton.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Edwards Church Music Fund or the Holyoke Soldiers Home.