As we memorialize Donald Howard in held memories and heart kept.
Parents and Siblings
Don was the son of Ward and Dolores Howard, and brother to two sisters, Darline White and Denise Mendonca.
Birth
He was born on April 24th, 1952 in Ukiah, California.
Descendants
Don is survived by his daughter, Heather Thompson, and two grandsons, Tyler and Garrett Thompson.
Death
He passed away on December 30th, 2020 in Beaverton, Oregon.
The Life of Donald Howard
His Story and Memory
Donald Ward Howard was born on April 24th, 1952 in Ukiah, California. The middle child of Ward and Dolores Howard, between sisters Darline White and Denise Mendonca. Most of his formative years were spent in northern California, often moving as a result of his father’s business ventures. His adolescence was spent outside of Seattle in Renton, Washington. Through much of his lifetime he would call the Portland, Oregon area home, dwelling in its various corners including Sandy, Gresham, Milwaukie, and Hillsboro. Above all, he was father to his daughter, Heather Thompson.
When Don entered a room, he carried with him lively conversation, humor, and his love of arts, food, and culture. The sort of person who saw the art of life itself. Quick to find similarities with a stranger, he was well-liked wherever he went. He found much intrigue in how people reacted to or saw things. This included his ongoing passion for all things food. There was nothing that he loved more than preparing food for people, and enjoying it together. More than any other dishes, he was legendary for his pizza and pasta. He could transform the most mundane into something meaningful.
He was a natural creative, and much of his life was defined through this lens. Early on, his artistic talent flourished as a sculptor and illustrator at Hazen High School. Many hours were devoted to underwater photography, which he coupled with a great affection for scuba diving. He was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman, exploring the greenery and coasts of northern California and the Pacific Northwest. In the last decades of his life, hundreds of miles were spent bicycling, which would be his final activity before death. Don had an enthusiasm for mechanics, particularly working on Volvo cars. He deeply loved history and discussing politics, and possibly more so, his family’s heritage.
A Man of Many Endeavors
He dabbled in many endeavors through his life. In the early 1970s he worked as a jeweler for his father’s cousin, Harold Orr, at Continental Jewelers in Seattle, Washington. In the 1970s and 1980s, Don applied his skills to the print industry. Many hours were labored at a print shop in Sacramento, California, and later running Cascade Graphics in downtown Gresham, Oregon and Press Works in Sandy, Oregon. From 1992 to 1999, he was the mastermind behind Andano’s Ristoranté, a gourmet Italian restaurant in Sandy. Subsequently, Don published The Menu, a collection of recipes from the restaurant. From 2002 through 2013, Don obtained degrees from both Mt. Hood Community College and Portland Community College. For over a decade he worked as a freelance graphic designer and web developer. He also worked in Technology Services for the nonprofit Goodwill Industries.
During the conclusive years of his life, Don devoted himself to the Christian faith. This sparked an empathetic spirit in him that was infectious. In the final months of his life, Don described that he discovered a true Sabbath, spending an entire day spiritually meditating and cooking food. The echoes of his legacy will be held in the hearts of those he loved as such.
At sixty-eight, Don unexpectedly passed away on December 30th, 2020 at his condominium in Beaverton, Oregon. He is survived by his former wife, Sheri Coughlin, daughter, Heather Thompson, and two grandsons, Tyler and Garrett Thompson. Also, he is survived by his sister, Darline White, nephews Brian and Todd Mazur, brother-in-law Tom Mendonca, nephew Joe Mendonca, niece Heidi Carter, and many great nieces, nephews and friends.
The absence of Don Howard will leave an empty mark on his family and friends. In every way that he will be deeply missed, so also will his story and memory be cherished.