Merle Stine's Eulogy for Howard

Howard was my big brother.  I was his little sister.  In our early years we didn't know that we were in the lower income bracket.  Everybody in our family worked to barely keep the Depression out of our house.

Howard was our fair-haired boy.  He worked for Goldblatt's in the Advertising Department. When the time was right for him, he left Goldblatt's and struck out for himself.  After a variety of step-ups he became manager of a new shopping mall in Chicago, called Lincoln Village.

Forty-three years ago, after his military service, he married Gerry, and they soon moved to Dallas, where he became the Manager of Big Town, a growing shopping center.  He initiated many new concepts in the management of such an enterprise and worked there for many years until he reached retirement age.

Gerry and Howard, together, developed a large circle of friends, an active social and cultural life.  Over the years he was strongly supportive of the art museums, the symphony, the temple and he became a leading member of SCORE, where he and other retired people helped new business men organize their developing projects.

He was generous and he was loved by many people, and was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. Throughout his life in the military and in civilian life, whenever he met someone new, they soon became one of his good friends.  Since Gerry was also similarly active, they soon developed a large circle of "good friends".

During his whole life he was plagued by a variety of illnesses, some quite serious, but he always dealt with them optimistically and positively. Even with his final, most grave illness, his acceptance was brave and realistic.

When, years ago, he lived near us, he was a devoted uncle to our three sons in their growing years.

I was always his favorite relative, and that is an honor that I will miss severely.  The period of my bereavement will last forever.

Good-bye, Howard.

I, too, will miss Howard.  I regret that we cannot be with you today to honor his memory.  Hopefully, we will at some appropriate future time, hold a memorial service in Chicago for others of his family and friends who could not come to Dallas at this time.

We were fortunate in being with him a  few weeks ago, when he was able to have a significant farewell conference with Merle, lasting almost two hours.  I think it was most important for both of them.

Wherever he may be now, I am sure he will soon be a docent, willing to show us our way around when we arrive.