T. Howell Breece

Born Thomas Howell Breece in Boston on December 6, 1916, the only child of Ruth and Tom, Howell finished his life at home in his own bed in Sausalito on July 26, 2015. Howell loved us all so much- a family man who welcomed and accepted all he met. He was a friend, teacher, animal lover, humanitarian, pacifist, linguist, and scholar. At age 2 Howell moved with his English professor parents to Peking, China where he lived until graduating as valedictorian of Peking American School. He left China proficient in Mandarin, English, French and Latin to attend UC Berkeley where he lived at I-House and graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1938. He took a Masters in English, though he preferred studying Ancient Greek, married his first wife, Eileen Lynch, and moved to attend Japanese Language School as a naval lieutenant in Boulder, CO where his first son was born. Stationed in China during WWII, he was flown “over the hump” to Chunking where he translated Japanese radio transmissions and played in high stakes poker games. After the war, he returned to California to teach English at Napa Community College, San Quentin Prison, and College of Marin putting three sons through college on a teacher’s salary. Divorced from his first wife, he met and married Joan Bernardi and had two more sons. With his family, he travelled extensively in Mexico, Europe, and camped along the west coast of the U.S. and Canada. After retiring from COM in 1983, he and Joan continued to travel and make lifelong friends everywhere as they attended Dixieland Jazz festivals and tent camped on Hornby Island until he was 96! He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Joan; sister-in-law, Gene Bernardi; sons and spouses, Conrad (Joan), Teddy (Alyse), Timothy (Susan); grandchildren, Kirsten (Jason), Katie, Nina, Thor; great granddaughter Maddie; and many friends. Thank you to Hospice by the Bay, all his care givers, and especially May Vang who took such tender care of him in his last year. Howell was a true renaissance man who could hot wire a car, recite Chaucer in Middle English, speak/read 6+ languages, build a house, fix a pipe, and answer ANY historical or grammatical question. Dashing and brilliant, he appreciated beautiful women, good wine, and single malt scotch. He enjoyed reading, sailing, teaching, telling dirty jokes and singing sea chanties. Always resistant to change, he influenced and changed so many while himself changing so little. Sail on dear Dad; sail on. As Howell wished, there will be no funeral. Come celebrate Howell’s life on August 29, 1-4PM at Tamalpais Community Center, 203 Marin Ave, Mill Valley. For a reminder and directions send an email to thbreece126@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice by the Bay 17 E Sir Francis Drake Blvd Larkspur, CA 94939 or The Nature Conservancy at conserveca.org.