BURTIS WILLIAM HOWARD

Cohoes - Burtis William Howard, 93, peaceably passed away on December 13, 2020, at Eddy Village Green in Cohoes. Born in Kansas City, MO, Burtis was the eldest of two children born to Ezra E. Howard and Phyllis W. Burtis. Burtis served in the Navy in WWII, honorably discharged in 1947. He then continued his studies at Kansas State University where he studied electrical engineering and early computers. After leaving the Navy, Burtis became a lifelong pacifist and Quaker. He was married in England to Lyn Marsh in 1965. They moved to Brunswick in the early 1970’s, and, following their divorce, he continued to live there for over 30 years. Burtis was a supporter of the Grafton Peace Pagoda, “Save the Pine Bush” and “Brunswick Smart Growth.” Keen to naturally treat migraines and arthritis, he was an early advocate of bee sting therapy, raw, fermented, and pro-biotic foods, and was a devout vegan for over 70 years. He invented interesting objects (such as his beloved recumbent bicycle), crafted oating staircases and custom-made cabinetry, and gained much pleasure from researching family history with his daughter and preparing his son for the Olympic Training Center’s cycling road racing team. He was deeply curious about matters physical and spiritual, ever welcoming to those known and not so known, and animated by a dry and mischievous sense of humor. Burtis’ family sincerely thanks the staff at Eddy Village Green and Community Hospice for their deep and compassionate care over the past 6 months. The family also wishes to thank Easton Friends Meeting for encircling Burtis in their light and love (via video) on the day that he passed. He is preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Margaret Alice Patterson. He is survived by his two children, Peter (Keiko), Brunswick, and Thia (Nicolas) Longhi, Valley Cottage, NY, two grandchildren, Max and Sam, and two nieces, Meg Patterson Rogers, Doha, Qatar, and Sue Patterson, Philadelphia, PA. Memorial services will be held online. Funeral services will be held in the spring when Covid will hopefully be less of a threat for group gatherings. Please contact family for more information. In lieu of owers, contributions may be made in memory of Burtis William Howard to The Easton Friends Meetinghouse, 1778 State Route 40, Greenwich, NY 12834 or the Grafton Peace Pagoda 87 Crandall Rd Petersburgh, NY 12138. To sign the guest book or light a candle visit www.brycefh.com.