J. Howard Rees

J. Howard Rees Jr., 103, died Thursday (July 5, 2012) at his home in West Hartford, CT. Howard was born on March 27, 1909 in Nanticoke, PA. He was the son of John H. Rees Sr. and June Thomas Rees and the oldest brother of fourteen siblings. Howard graduated from Nanticoke High School in 1927 and earned a B.A. from Penn State University in 1932. During the height of the Great Depression, Howard worked as a social work “visitor” for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Public Assistance where he met his wife, Mary Ruth Quinn. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Howard enlisted in the US Army. His distinguished military career in medical administration took him to the 204th Station Hospital in Sitka, Alaska and to Tinian in the Mariana Islands. He was on Tinian when the “Enola Gay” left that airstrip for its most historic journey. Following the war, Howard served as a hospital administrator for the Veterans Administration in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, DC and Newington, CT inspecting and managing the quality of care at hospitals throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Pop Pop enjoyed thirty five years of retirement; caring for his beloved grandchildren, supporting his loved ones and traveling with his wife and family. Whether gazing at the Sistine Chapel ceiling (the inspiration for his first European adventure), to kissing the Blarney Stone or tracing family roots in Wales and England, Howard celebrated diverse cultures and experiences. He exquisitely orchestrated his wife’s home care services for years before her death on July 6, 2006. Howard was able to remain at home thanks to the diligent and compassionate love, care and support of his family and devoted care givers Donna Sienkiewicz, Judy Thornton, Natalie Plude and, more recently, Patricia Rathmann and the staff of Masonicare Partners Home Health and Hospice. To those who had the privilege of knowing him, Howard was an incredible person, mentor, friend, father, grandfather, and husband. Howard is survived by his sisters Shirley Fleet and Mildred Plummer, brother Ronald Rees, daughters Molly Rees Gavin and Joanne Rees Kaczor and her husband Robert Kaczor, grandchildren Megan Rees Gavin, Michael Rees Gavin and Sarah Kathleen Kaczor and legions of devoted friends and family. He was predeceased by his loving wife Mary Quinn Rees and ten brothers and sisters. Calling hours will be Monday from 5-8 p.m at the Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave., West Hartford. The funeral will be Tuesday beginning with a funeral procession at 8:30 a.m. from the funeral home followed by a graveside service at 9:00 a.m. at Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. A Memorial Service will follow the burial at 10:00 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2080 Boulevard, West Hartford. Memorial donations may be made to The Affinity Fund at Connecticut Community Care Inc., 43 Enterprise Drive, Bristol, Connecticut 06010. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com

J. Howard Rees

March 27, 1909 - July 5, 2012