Mr. Lee B. Howard, 77, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2022 at his home in Verona, surrounded by his loving family.
Visiting will be in the Prout Funeral Home, 370 Bloomfield Ave., Verona, on Wednesday, March 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. Services will be held in the Restland Memorial Park Chapel, 77 Deforest Ave., East Hanover on Thursday at 11 a.m.
Lee was born in Newark, grew up in East Orange and was a resident of Verona since 1968. He graduated from Clifford Scott High School and attended Essex County College.
His professional career spanned 31 years as a convention manager for Hoffman LaRoche in Nutley.
Since he was a young boy, he enjoyed spending summers in Wildwood and so as an adult he continued this tradition with his own family. Being the outgoing, friendly man he was, he became known as the “Mayor of Wildwood Crest” as he greeted and talked with everyone on the beach. He especially liked the Classic Car Show each year in Wildwood.
Lee was predeceased by his parents, James and Evelyn (nee Scheuplein) Howard and his sister, Betty Branch.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Marietta (nee Bellino) Howard; his loving daughters, Carolyn Luehs (Thomas), Lorraine Howard and Jennifer Knapp (Jeffrey); and cherished grandchildren, Alexandra, Christopher, Andrew and Steven Luehs, John Demartinis and Matthew, Timothy and Brett Knapp. He is also survived by his sister, Linda Graybill.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 would be greatly appreciated.
Condolences may be left at www.proutfuneralhome.com.
