Howard C. Henn's Obituary
Howard Henn, 84, of Lewes DE died suddenly the evening of March 24, 2023. He loved his family immensely, especially his children Susanne Henn Malmos, Carolyn Henn, and James Henn and his son-in-law Robert Malmos and daughter-in-law Melissa Knight Henn. He thought about his deceased daughter Anne-Marie Henn every single day since her death in 1982. He loved his seven grandchildren, James Malmos (deceased), Daniel Malmos, and Ryan (Dana Spain) Malmos, Amanda McNally, Brian McNally, Katie Henn, and Riley Henn (deceased). He was a huge fan and supporter of his wife of 59 years, Katherine Gabler Henn, in her many academic endeavors. He is survived by his brother David Henn, his niece Lisa Henn (Jefferson) Barr, his nephews Michael (Debra Guididas) Henn and Peter Henn and their children, and his sisters-in-law Maggie Gabler (Glen) King and Mary Gabler (Bill) Dennis and his nephews and nieces. He was pre-deceased by his brother-in-law, Edward Gabler. He cherished his many friends, especially his Lewes long-time sailing buddy, Robert Porta.
Born in 1938 in Brooklyn NY, the son of Howard and Frances Higgins Henn, (both deceased), Howard held a master’s degree in engineering from Columbia University. Early in his career he worked for Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ on the Niki Zeus project. In 1963 he joined Bell Labs in Holmdel, NJ. He joined Exxon Research and Engineering in Florham Park, NJ in 1966 and over the next thirty years he worked aa a project manager installing and upgrading computer systems at refineries around the world. In that process he moved his family to Phoenix, AZ; Karlsruhe, Germany; Neshanic, PA; Punto Fijo, Venezuela; Surrey, England; Keeston, Wales; Houston, TX; Baton Rouge, LA; Hunt Valley, MD; Tokyo, Japan; Singapore; Milan, Italy; Benicassim, Spain and finally London, UK.
He loved children and as a young engineer worked on designs to allow children with cerebral palsy to be able to operate computers. Over the years he was involved in the construction of several state-of-the-art safe playgrounds. He also spent years teaching computer skills to “displaced homemakers” at the County College of Morris, NJ, for which he received an award from the State of New Jersey. He also taught computer skills at the Battered Women’s Shelter in Morris County. Most of his trainees found successful careers.
Howard was a set builder for the Barn Theatre in Montville, NJ. At age 70 he won the “rookie actor” award for his role as Old Hermie in the Summer of ’42, beating out a cast of very experienced teenagers. For many years he served as a Trustee at Longview at Montville’s HOA. In Lewes he was a member of the Lewes Yacht Club, the Lewes Historical Society and an Instructor member at the Lewes based Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, where he especially enjoyed the company of the English Country Dance group.
A former resident of Westfield, NJ, where he belonged to the Christian Family Movement and enjoyed many long-term friendships, especially with his friend Deacon Tom Pluta. In death he will return to them and be buried with many of them at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, NJ.
A Visitation will take place at the Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE on Friday, March 31, 2023, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
A Visitation will take place on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, 506 Westfield Avenue, Westfield NJ 07090, from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM.
The family has a special relationship with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness, www.nami.org) 4301 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203 and requests that you direct any memorial donations you wish to give to this worthy organization from which Howard’s family has directly benefited.
Please sign the virtual guestbook located on the tribute page.
FLORIST NOTE: PLEASE DELIVER ALL ARRANGEMENTS BY 3:00 PM ON THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2023, AT OUR LEWES LOCATION.
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