My favorite father-in-law. From the first time we met he made me feel special. To me, Howie was a gentle man and a gentleman. He had genuine interest in our lives and a smile for us all. He lives forever through his legacy. All of us. 

I remember the first time Grandad held Basya on our trip when she was almost two. She was on his lap in his "chess chair" in the family room, with him holding her hands rocking her. I was in the room, but he wouldn't have known it. He was so focused on making her laugh, and then absorbed in playing with her as she pretended to make him ice cream to eat. While I don't have memories of Grandad from when I was that age, growing up he would have moments with that same look for me. He'd grab my shoulder, the other hand on my face, and just look at me with glimmering eyes and big smile, showing he was proud and content. It was a look that just seemed like he was completed fulfilled in the moment. Grandad, I certainly wish I had appreciated those moments while they occurred but they have been the memory that has stuck with me the most. I remember the last time I got that look - on my last visit - when he hugged me and said "thank you" for visiting again, "I'm proud of you and have a wonderful family." There is nothing more meaningful than having those words to live with for the rest of my life. 

And I have a desk, of course. In it are a few other reminders of Grandad: A secret compartment (except that Sam told everyone about it!) that he'd leave money in for me every time he visited, an old electric chess set from Grandad, and Grandad's 2-in-1 ruler and calculator from when he was a kid!

It is impossible not to feel a deep sense of gratitude for having known Grandad. Often, images of his smile flutter through my mind. I think because when he smiled it always felt profound somehow and you could tell he really meant it. More than that his smile was truly contagious and genuine and I'm smiling now just remembering it. Maybe it was the eyebrows? One may never know...

Grandad, you have illuminated our lives in such a profound way. Thank you for teaching us what it means to love and value family. Thank you for always letting us have the shiny pennies on poker nights. Thank you for betting me $50 I would never make the 7-10 split when we went bowling at the Base... and honoring it when I made it! Thank you for teaching me your super secret card trick, even though I never could do it like you. It always made me feel so special.

Above all, thank you for being our Grandad. Your smile will forever live on in our souls.

Grandad took me to an Arizona basketball game when I was little - at one point during the game the other team made a basket and I said "booo!!!" and he told me - "we don't boo the other team, it's poor sportsmanship." He was the classiest gentleman. I miss his silly jokes and his laugh and I can still hear him say, "come on, you're pulling my leg!" or his famous "Oh, JOAN!" when she did something he wanted to tease her about. He loved our family so much. I feel blessed to still find his wisdom and comfort throughout the day.

I started playing Bejeweled on my phone a few years ago. I remember walking into the study and seeing Grandad playing Bejeweled. I would only watch for a few minutes at a time. I asked him why he enjoyed it so much and he said that he enjoyed patterns and that it kept him sharp. Grandad was pretty sharp late into his life. I guess it worked! Now I find that I enjoy what he was trying to describe to me and I think about him every time I play that game.
My other favorite memory is when Grandad and Grammy had Butterscotch/Tandy. I love that they both had different names for that goofy fluff-ball. I miss you Grandad!
Love, Pixie

I hold onto the memories of the endless games Grandad would play with us/me. Chess, backgammon, poker, that game where you slap the backs of our hands, and even the little races that we would have in Mom and Dad's backyard (the only thing I could ever win at). He always knew how to bring joy to whatever it was we were doing. Forever missed.
Buddy

The only thing missing is Grandad's smile when having fun with his grandchildren.  Otherwise, he still lives on in each and all ...!

I remember the first time I met Grandad when Alex and I were engaged. I remember how he looked at Gram and spoke of how they met and fell in love. I remember thinking how in love they still looked many many years after building a life together. At that moment, all I wanted was to be able to build that kind of life filled with love with Alex. Thank Gd, we have wonderful role models. May his memory always be a blessing.

Never forgotten. Always in our hearts. Every room in our house has something Howie made and I always think of him when I see it. Love to all.
Todd