Obituary for Howard Brown
Howard Martin Brown (Howie) died Sunday, December 11, 2022 in Montclair, New Jersey. His wife, Wendy, and sister-in-law, Pam, were at his side. He was 66 years old. Howie was born in Newark, NJ on March 8, 1956 to Shirley and Hyman Brown. After growing up in Hillside, NJ, and graduating from SUNY Binghamton, he moved to the Woodstock, NY area where he was a beloved and respected friend and musician for three decades, known for supporting and encouraging others in the community. He was an accomplished saxophone, keyboard player, composer and teacher, who was able to build a life immersed in and supported by music.
Before moving to Woodstock, he met Wendy at a local bar in New Jersey. They dated for a year and went their separate ways. In 2007, Howie came back into Wendy’s life and they both knew immediately that they would always be together. They had 15 beautiful, fun-filled, loving years together and decided to marry in August of 2021, after Howie’s cancer diagnosis.
Howie had been dealing with Stage IV pancreatic cancer since April of 2021. For the first 18 months or so, Howie felt wonderful and was able to lead an active life doing all the things he loved to do. When he wasn’t going to the gym, swimming and bike riding, he was mowing the lawn, rebuilding the backyard fence, refurbishing furniture, power washing everything in sight. Howie and Wendy went to Ocean Grove, their beloved shore spot throughout the summer, spent a week in Provincetown with family, and spent time in upstate New York, kayaking, walking the trails and seeing friends.
Most importantly, Howie faced cancer head on, doing everything he could to turn it around. He changed his entire way of thinking about healing and was able to adopt a beautiful, fearless, positive attitude that sustained him throughout. He was an inspiration to everyone around him. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse that he couldn’t come back from. He wanted to. He loved life and only wanted to spend more years with his beloved wife.
We are planning to do a celebration of life both in New Jersey and upstate New York in the months to come.
Howie is survived by three sisters, Audrey Grossman, Hilary Brown and Renee Brown, his niece, Carly Ciabattari (Grossman), as well as his sisters-in-law, Leslie Webster and Pamela Dolber. Wendy and Howie didn’t have children but spent many joy filled years with their beloved Boston Terrier, Sophie.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice in his name.
Before moving to Woodstock, he met Wendy at a local bar in New Jersey. They dated for a year and went their separate ways. In 2007, Howie came back into Wendy’s life and they both knew immediately that they would always be together. They had 15 beautiful, fun-filled, loving years together and decided to marry in August of 2021, after Howie’s cancer diagnosis.
Howie had been dealing with Stage IV pancreatic cancer since April of 2021. For the first 18 months or so, Howie felt wonderful and was able to lead an active life doing all the things he loved to do. When he wasn’t going to the gym, swimming and bike riding, he was mowing the lawn, rebuilding the backyard fence, refurbishing furniture, power washing everything in sight. Howie and Wendy went to Ocean Grove, their beloved shore spot throughout the summer, spent a week in Provincetown with family, and spent time in upstate New York, kayaking, walking the trails and seeing friends.
Most importantly, Howie faced cancer head on, doing everything he could to turn it around. He changed his entire way of thinking about healing and was able to adopt a beautiful, fearless, positive attitude that sustained him throughout. He was an inspiration to everyone around him. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse that he couldn’t come back from. He wanted to. He loved life and only wanted to spend more years with his beloved wife.
We are planning to do a celebration of life both in New Jersey and upstate New York in the months to come.
Howie is survived by three sisters, Audrey Grossman, Hilary Brown and Renee Brown, his niece, Carly Ciabattari (Grossman), as well as his sisters-in-law, Leslie Webster and Pamela Dolber. Wendy and Howie didn’t have children but spent many joy filled years with their beloved Boston Terrier, Sophie.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice in his name.