Rev. Thomas Parker Howard, 90, of Lexington, Mass., formerly of Arlington, North Grafton, Franklin, Merrimac, and Milton, Mass., passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loving family on Jan. 8.
Tom was a graduate of Harvard University, Class of 1948, and Andover Newton Theological School where he received his Master of Divinity in 1957.
Tom began his professional life as a mechanical engineer at Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Quincy, Mass., where he designed a precision weighing machine that is still in use today.
Tom found his true calling as a Congregational minister. He served as minister of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Merrimac, Mass. and the Franklin Federated Church in Franklin, Mass. Later, he served as Interim Minister of several Massachusetts Congregational churches including Uxbridge, Charlton, and Ware.
Tom spent his summers at the family cottage in Christmas Cove, where he enjoyed time with his family and sailed the coastal waters. He was an excellent musician. He played the French horn throughout his life, notably in the Harvard University Band, where he took great pride in being the student conductor. Later in life he performed in the Metro-West Orchestra and shared the gift of music around the world with Sharing a New Song Choir.
Tom is survived by his life-partner, Marion Harris; daughters, Robbin C. Howard of Eugene, Ore., and Mary T. Howard and husband Stephen E. Mooney of Brookline, Mass.; sons, Stephen P. Howard and wife Elizabeth A. Kendall of Deale, Md., and Mark S. Howard and partner Cristina M. Todesco of Dorchester, Mass.; brother, Robert E. Howard and wife Josephine of Manchester, Mass.; grandchildren, Elisha, Emily, Caroline Kazimiera, Benjamin, and Nicole; former spouses, Dolores Altavilla, and Clare S. Ames, mother of their children.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Sun., Jan. 29 at Park Avenue Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, 50 Paul Revere Rd., Arlington, Mass. A reception will be held at the church following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Andover Newton Theological School, 210 Herrick Rd., Newton Centre, MA 02459.
The interment will be private.
