Larry Howard has problems

[Charlie]

So sad to hear this. Glad he was with family and in peace at home.

[Tim Ford]

I figure I had over 1,500 offshore miles with Larry. He was three times the sailor I'll ever be or could even aspire to be. But the thing about Larry was, he never lorded it over anyone. When I failed to stand a watch due to mal de mer, in 2019, I was ashamed and I was afraid that he'd manifest some disappointment or lack of confidence in my ability to hack it. He never did. I realized that that just wasn't his "way." I had underestimated his kindness.

Larry's depth of knowledge and experience was too deep for me to even try to plum. I've raced with a more than a handful of Group 3 guys in the past three decades, but in my opinion, Larry was the only true "Professional" of the lot.

[Rob McAlpine]

A few days after the 2019 M-B Larry sent me this note. It's bittersweet, but it reminds me that, as Benno said, it could have been worse:

SA has a thread about sailing moments. I wrote this for that by decided it was too personal to post but want to share with you. Good friends don’t see each other every day but every day that they are together is special. Thanks for being a great friend.

“Where to start? First time sailing in an Opti as a young kid and realizing that “this is freedom”, my first solo night watch far from light pollution and experiencing the awe of the Milky Way to a 200 mile match race last week into Bermuda that we won by 10 seconds, 60 years of sailing brings many special moments. One does stand out.

In early 2017, a cancer diagnosis forced me to drop out of a planned Marion-Bermuda. First surgeon I saw (and supposedly one of the best) called it inoperable and gave me less than a year. Thank god for second opinions! 12 rounds of high dose inpatient chemo, radiation and a 6 hour surgery had me to the point where it took a transfusion to get my body ready for the next chemo round. In just over a year, I spent about 70 days in the hospital and about the same sequestered at home with a nearly non existent immune system. Finished treatment on 1 June of 2017, “cancer free” and weak as shit.

In July, I got a call from a great friend with a sweet boat telling me he needed me to drive a classic regatta in late August. I really wasn’t up for it and used all of the excuses. Too weak, off my game, out of practice. He wouldn’t take no for an answer so I finally drug my carcass to Newport and fronted up. First day was a bit shaky after nearly 2 years off the water. Got dialed in on day 2 and won the start against some legendary boats, beating several much quicker boats to the windward mark. Had 4 days of great sailing. Crossing tacks with Dorade, a couple of 12’s, Big Ti, Blue Pete, etc. For 8 hours a day, I wasn’t recovering from cancer, I wasn’t at risk of dying. I was sailing a great boat with a better friend. I don’t remember where in the mid fleet we finished but that weekend, I put sickness behind me and started living again. My loved ones and some great doctors and nurses got me through the disease. Sailing restarted my life. Some seasons are short. Some are full of great moments. Some you end up missing.

Sailing isn’t moments. Sailing is life.”

[Slick470]

Thanks for sharing that Rob.

Larry is a big reason that Sarah let me do the return with you on Sparky in 2017. I asked her if I could do it and she wanted to know who you were and if there would be anyone on the boat that we knew on the return. At the time Larry was planning on it and once I told her that, she was like, If Larry is doing it, go have fun.

[Charlie]

That is a touching note, Rob. Thanks for sharing.

[Slick470]

I've been messaging with Lynne this morning and she asked me to post Larry's obituary.

https://www.brinsfieldfuneral.com/obituary/capt-reginald-lawrence-larry-howard-usn-ret?fbclid=IwAR0IUR_9m671x4jah_0_GiqLlCgGWQHJbJu387S1_94eHQqEj5lRb8r1k6I

[The Red Lady]

Fuck! It's not an eloquent response but it's what I've got. That news feels like I had the air knocked out of me. I never met Larry in person, but the thoughtful help, replies and conversations I've had with him over the years is something I will never forget. I'm so glad he went peacefully at home with loved ones, but damn we lost a good one!

[JoeP]

Oh hell. So sorry to hear this. I just returned home from a memorial service for my brother in law who died of leukemia/cancer recently. It's been a hell of a year for sickness and death in my circle. Fuck!

I never met Larry but his exchanges here indicated to me that he was a good man, with good friends. His accomplishments in life are many and varied, and well done. I have never been in the service but I would like to offer a big Bravo Zulu in his memory.

Fair winds and following seas larry, and wherever you are may you always catch the 2 wire.

[avramd]

This is rough. I did not have anywhere near the connection that many of you had, I only know Larry from his valuable and friendly posts here. All I can say is that you are all making an excellent tribute to him here, and it is clear that I missed out.

[Rob McAlpine]

Got this from Lynne the other day:

"If I may ask a favor, would you do Larry the honor of letting him crew with you again on your next race to Bermuda? He would like some of his ashes to be near the finishing line."

The honor is all mine, Ma'am, all mine.

[Panope]

Reaching for a Kleenex...........

[kdh]

You're a good man, Rob.

[H B]

Nice. That will be excellent.

[Rob McAlpine]

Nice. That will be excellent.

I assume I’ll meet you in person tomorrow?

[Tim Ford]

Today is going to be one of those strange days when you are happy to see old friends and share a few laughs while the reason for the get-together remains grim. Toss in the fact that Larry was only 66 and had a lot more living to do....it's just going to be tough.

Have to carry on, use Larry for inspiration. The man could hack it.

[H B]

Nice. That will be excellent.

I assume I’ll meet you in person tomorrow?

Affirmative. We will be there. As Tim noted, it will be nice to meet new friends and catch up with old, but it will be bittersweet. I don't think Larry was the type of guy to want us to mourn too long though. I seem to remember having a toast of scotch to Spike Perry (someone I'd never met but knew of thru Bob Perry's internet posts) on Larry's deck after he'd passed. I am not really a scotch drinker, so I'll probably bring a little rum to toast Larry on his own deck with Lynne and friends today.

[Jamie]

Today is going to be one of those strange days when you are happy to see old friends and share a few laughs while the reason for the get-together remains grim. Toss in the fact that Larry was only 66 and had a lot more living to do....it's just going to be tough.

Have to carry on, use Larry for inspiration. The man could hack it.

You're very fortunate to have that friendship and to have someone like Larry to be at the center.

[H B]

Meeting Rob yesterday was nice, and it was great to see some other Scantlingers, too, like Tim, Ajax, Benno, Slick & SA'er Foxtrot Corpen. Did I miss anybody?? Kind of an emotional day..Lots of highs remembering Larry and telling and hearing some good stories, and some lows too, thinking he'd passed too early. The toast of the Sailor Jerry and Capt. Dickweed that Rob found in Larry's liquor cabinet with everyone was nice.

[Ish]

Hat's off. I wish I could edit the title so it was just "Larry Howard". Damn. Never mat the man, but there's a lot of eloquence on his passing.

[Ajax]

Reaching for a Kleenex...........

You'd better have a box of Kleenex. We have ash spreading tasks for you and Kim Bottles as well.

I am in possession of a letter from Larry and have been tasked with disseminating some of his cremains to various locations around the globe that were important to him.
I have already PM'd Olaf. I'll be sending a PM to you and Kim this week with details.

[Olaf Hart]

It would be a great honour Rich, reply to pm sent..

[Olaf Hart]

There are a lot of duplicate replies, sorry about that, I can’t find a delete function, but I am sure you get the message!

[TheOffice]

This is all heartbreaking, even for a heartless bastard like me.

Rich, while you are mourning, you should feel honored by the duty.

Joel

[Ajax]

This is all heartbreaking, even for a heartless bastard like me.

Rich, while you are mourning, you should feel honored by the duty.

Joel

That is not lost on me.

[LarryHoward]

I am sorry to invade this space but I wanted to say a few words

I would be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about what to say when this time came, but I’d be lying still if I thought it would come this soon. While I’m sure he has been called by many names, some more polite than others, for 26 years I’ve been lucky enough to call Larry “Dad”.

I would like to thank all of you for your kind words and those that were able to make the trip down to Maryland over the weekend. We could not have asked for a better day. They say a man’s character is known by the company he keeps, and I don’t think anyone could have possibly found better. Thank you all for allowing him to forget, even if just for moments, about the battle he was forced to fight. I’m so very glad he was able to share what he loved so much with so many others. If only we could all be so lucky. I hope that you will remember him as I will, on a long reach up the bay on a clear summer day, in the chest shaking roar of a jet engine, or the howl of an engine before a shift at redline.

He will be missed, but never forgotten.

May even the headwinds be in your favor.

-Chris Howard

[BeauV]

Chris,

Thank you for that. Your Dad was one-of-a-kind. I'm sure you're very proud of him and should be. He was much loved around here, but nothing like the love he felt from his family. He is certainly missed.

Beau

[Jamie]

Chris,

You probably know this but your father was incredibly proud of you. His pride in you came through in every discussion. You don't know me, but I've discussed your autox go-pro runs with your dad. We agreed you had smooth hands and didn't bog at the start.

Jamie

[kimbottles]

Reaching for a Kleenex...........

You'd better have a box of Kleenex. We have ash spreading tasks for you and Kim Bottles as well.

I am in possession of a letter from Larry and have been tasked with disseminating some of his cremains to various locations around the globe that were important to him.
I have already PM'd Olaf. I'll be sending a PM to you and Kim this week with details.

I will standby for instructions. I am honored to be involved.

[kimbottles]

Chris,

Thank you for that. Your Dad was one-of-a-kind. I'm sure you're very proud of him and should be. He was much loved around here, but nothing like the love he felt from his family. He is certainly missed.

Beau

Ditto to all of what Beau says...

[Panope]

Reaching for a Kleenex...........

You'd better have a box of Kleenex. We have ash spreading tasks for you and Kim Bottles as well.

I am in possession of a letter from Larry and have been tasked with disseminating some of his cremains to various locations around the globe that were important to him.
I have already PM'd Olaf. I'll be sending a PM to you and Kim this week with details.

I will standby for instructions. I am honored to be involved.

What ever is needed, I am on it.