2014 -- H 7945

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LC005207

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF JOHN I. HOWELL, SR.

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Bennett, Trillo, Naughton, and McNamara

     Date Introduced: March 18, 2014

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that this House has learned of the passing of John I.

Howell, Sr., beloved husband of sixty-one years to the late Nelda Audibert Howell, loving father

of John Howell and his wife, Carol, and Claire Blatchford and her husband, Edward, grandfather

of Diana O'Brien, John Howell, III, Theodore Howell, Laurel Blatchford, and Christa Blatchford,

and eight beautiful great grandchildren. For the past decade, Mr. Howell had been devoted to

Marge Boger, his friend, his companion, and quite literally, his lifesaver; and

     WHEREAS, The youngest of three sons born to the Rev. Alleyne and Rosalie Howell,

John Howell was a graduate of St. Paul's School and Yale University. Upon graduation, he

worked as a news reporter for PM, a New York City daily newspaper. He met his artistic and

vivacious wife Nelda and the two were married in 1941. They moved to Cleveland, Ohio and

shortly thereafter, started their family. Mr. Howell took employment as a reporter for the

Cleveland Plain Dealer, then moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked in the Division of

World Trade Intelligence; and

     WHEREAS, In December of 1941, the United States declared war against Japan, and

three days later, upon Germany. Mr. Howell was determined to serve his country, and after his

eyesight resulted in his being rejected, he memorized the eye chart and successfully joined the

United States Army. He was assigned to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in Washington,

D.C., and was later sent to Burma and China, where he provided intelligence on Japanese

maneuvers; and

     WHEREAS, After the war, Mr. Howell utilized his skills and intelligence background

working for the CIA as an under-cover banker. His efforts and finesse in finance, world affairs,

and commerce led to the next chapter of his career, with the J. Henry Schroder Banking

Corporation based in London, England, where he was named president of the company in 1962,

and chairman of the board in 1970; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Howell possessed an abundance of business acumen but he was also

endowed with an equal measure of compassion. As patriarch of his family, he worked to bring

and keep the family united and strong, and was often turned to for his sage advice and ability to

listen, understand, and bring out the best in others; and

     WHEREAS, John Howell left this world a far better place because of his life’s endeavors

and he enriched the lives of all who knew him. He will be dearly missed; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby expresses our deepest sympathies on the passing of John Howell,

Sr.; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Marge Boger, John and Carol Howell, and

Claire and Edward Blatchford.

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