Obituary of Howard Slaughter

Howard was the first-born child of Irene and Joseph Slaughter. Born in Manhattan, NYC, NY.  He was the apple of his mother and father’s eyes, with carrot-red hair, brown eyes, freckles, and dimples.  Howie resembled the TV puppet character ‘Howdie Doody’, with red hair, freckles, dimples, and a great smile.  Even into adulthood, people would comment on the resemblance.  From a very young age, he was very adventurous, always wanting to explore new things, places, and people.  Fourteen months later, he was joined by his only sibling, his sister Mary, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and freckles. 

From birth, Howie adored his sister, Mary.  Howie watched over his sister always to protect her from harm, because he was the big brother.  The siblings were so close in age that most people, as the two were growing up, thought they were twins.

Mary adored her brother Howie.  While she was more shy and much less adventurous, she always wanted to follow Howie around and do everything he did.  Howie was the outgoing one and made all new friends and those friends also became Mary’s friends.  Once you were a friend of Howie, you were a friend for life (he was a very loyal friend).  

From a very early age, Howie was very creative, during playtime, in school, and in life.  He had artistic talent that led to a scholarship to art school during Grade School.  In Junior High school, he learned to play the trumpet in the school orchestra. He had a great ear for music.  He was so good, he gave a solo performance during our Spring Festival and became a ‘star’ to all of the girls in the school.  During High School his English teacher was so impressed with his writing ability that she nominated him for an English scholarship for college.  He did not pursue that avenue because he never liked to get great accolades; he did not like being the center of attention.  At home, Howie had such a keen eye for color, and style, he often helped Mom make new decorating choices, for furniture and room colors.  Howie never lost his artistic, musical, writing, and decorating-style abilities.

At eighteen years old, upon graduating High School, during the heat of the Vietnam War, Howie enlisted in the US Marine Corps.  He was very brave.  Upon returning from the war, he suffered from PTSD.  He lost his smile during the fifteen years it took for him to overcome PTSD with therapy.  His wonderful smile finally returned and his great sense of humor. 

Like a true Marine, he was meticulous about his appearance and dress.  When he walked into a room, everyone noticed.  He was so handsome.  He was an avid outdoorsman, fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, and boating.  Even when he dressed for the outdoor activities, he was neat and color-coordinated.

Howard had a variety of jobs since the Marine Corps.  But the job that suited him best was when he became a Court Officer for New York State.  He loved his job, and his colleagues.  And they returned the love.  He retired in 2016. 

Howard experienced many female relationships during his life.  Even though those relationships ended, many remained his friends.  Then, Howard formed the best relationship of his life, when he met and married Sharon.  We would often talk together about how Sharon was the best thing that ever happened to Howie, and how Howie was the best thing that ever happened to Sharon.  They were so perfect for each other.  A match made in heaven. They were a beloved couple to their friends and family.  Everyone so enjoyed being in their company, observing their love, playful ribbing and joking, laughter, and hospitality.

Howie was stepdad to Sharon’s daughter, Jessica.   He adored Jessica and she adored him.  She, like Mary, wanted to follow everything he did.  One Christmas, when Jessica was around seven years old, she gave Howie a gift plaque in a green frame (his favorite color), saying, ‘Father, not by birth, but by choice.’  We all cried when we saw it (Howie, Mary, and Sharon).  We lost Jessica to disease when she was twenty-seven years old.

Jessica had a friend since childhood, Hitomi.   She and Jessica were always together.  Whenever we went out to dinner, Hitomi and Jessica both wanted to sit next to Howie.  They loved him so, and he loved them.  Hitomi asked Howie if he could be her Daddy, too.  He was so overjoyed to behave like her dad.

Howard was loved by all his family and friends because of what a wonderful, loving, generous person he was.  He will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be held at Joseph F. Nardone Funeral Home, 414 Washington Street, Peekskill, NY on Sunday, December 15, 2024, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Chapel Service and Rendering of Military Honors will be held at Joseph F. Nardone Funeral Home, 414 Washington Street, Peekskill, NY on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 3:00 pm.

Private Cremation Ceremony to Follow.

In Lieu of flowers donations in Howard's memory may be made to a charity of your choice.