Alice (Van Loon) Howard

Alice (Allie) Van Loon Howard passed away peacefully five weeks shy of her 96th birthday at home in Hingham, Ma.  She was surrounded by family and loving caregivers in her final days.

Born in Albany, NY, Allie was raised in nearby Slingerlands by a sister, Happy, and husband Emory Lochner.  She was the youngest of five children, but in the Lochner household she became the “older sister” to their two daughters, Laddie and Libby.  Allie attended The Albany Girls Academy and then attended Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts where she majored in Art.  It was there that she met her husband, John Howard, who attended nearby Amherst College after serving in WWII. 

Following graduation in 1949, they married in 1950 and moved to NYC.  Allie worked at B. Altman’s flagship store and as a receptionist to Dwight D. Eisenhower in his campaign for President, while John and his partners built their start up business.  With the arrival of Allie’s first child, Elizabeth (Betsy), they moved to Darien, CT. which they called home for almost 50 years.  Betsy’s three brothers arrived later:  John Jr. (Chip), Douglas, and Mark.

Allie loved nothing more than caring for and raising her four children.  However, she and John regularly made time for some adventure travel and beloved beach time.  Few Caribbean beaches went unsampled over the course of many years.  Allie’s children loved their return from these trips, and the ensuing 8mm home movie nights!

Once the kids moved on, she resumed her passion for the visual arts. Over the years, she painted many wonderful landscapes and put her signature artistic touch on familiar settings.  These pieces are treasured by her family and are displayed with great pride.

Portions of every summer were spent at the family’s shared cottage in Maine.  This was the gathering place for extended family members and where cousins spent time in close quarters and in total chaos.  Days were spent boating, fishing, and doing chores, while evenings were around the dining table playing hearts, cribbage, and other laugh-filled card games. 

Allie and John eventually relocated to Vero Beach, FL where they loved the warm weather, the beach a block away, and plenty of opportunity to hone their golf games.  John passed away in 2015, and Allie returned to New England to be nearer to all her children and grandchildren.  She settled in Hingham, near  Betsy and three of her grandchildren, and (eventually) six great grandchildren.  Having family around her and sharing special moments with her extended family was all she wanted and needed.

Allie, Mom, Grammie, Grandma Allie—she answered to all—had an especially quick wit and joy for life that lives on within all 22 of her descendants.  Her extended family and many friends around the country will miss her but are blessed to have known her, to have learned from her, and to have both loved her and had her love shine on them.

There will be a celebration of Allie’s life on June 10, 2023, at 2pm in the Glastonbury Abbey Chapel, followed by a 3 pm showing of Allie’s artwork at the Marcone Center on the Abbey campus.  Friends and family are invited to attend one or both.

For those so wishing, donations may be made to the Norwell Visiting Nurses and Hospice in the name of Alice Howard.  NVNA can be reached at 120 Longwater Drive, Norwell, MA  02061, or at www.nvna.org. 

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