Howard F. Price

“…Today alone I have to love, to be faithful and true…For no one knows all that today will bring until it’s gone.” Sojourner Truth “Footprints”

The lifesong of Howard began on April 1, 1934 in Brooklyn, New York when he was born to the late Byrda and Howard Price Sr. He grew up in Brooklyn attending P.S. 246 before being admitted to attend Erasmus Hall High School, Brooklyn, NY where Howard graduated in 1952. During Howard’s time at Erasmus Hall he achieved a perfect attendance record and was known to be interested and hopefully have a future in accounting. Howard also loved chess, poetry and reading. He would obtain an Associates Degree in Applied Science from Baruch College, Business School, New York, NY in 1963. However, before embarking on a career in finance Howard would serve in the U.S. Marine Corps from July 2, 1953 to July 1, 1957. He trained and made PFC stripe after boot camp in Parris Island in South Carolina and was stationed for 3 years at Camp Elliott in San Diego, California. Howard was honorably discharged as a Sergeant and obtained the Marines National Defense Service Medal and the Marines Good Conduct Medal.

Howard was married to his wife Doris Price, whom he adored for 55 years. They were blessed with three children, Dorene, Vanessa, and Khary. While growing as a family they lived with Doris’ mother, Susie King in Brooklyn and then relocated to Smithtown, NY for the chance to provide their children with the best education and opportunities they could. Howard installed swing sets, took care of the lawn and garden all while he still worked for Chase Manhattan Bank commuting daily from the Smithtown LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) train station to downtown Manhattan. After a 25 year career at Chase, Howard retired and then took on two and three jobs to support the family.

As the children grew older, Howard enjoyed birthdays and holidays, putting each of them through college. Howard and Doris were a bright light to those who knew them. And they would visit family and friends often in Brooklyn. In addition they would pick up family and friends from Brooklyn and bring them to Smithtown for holiday meals and celebrations. Howard also changed his lifestyle eating only healthy food and cutting all sugar out of his diet. While the years continued on, Howard’s children were married and had children of their own. Howard and Doris sold their Smithtown home and downsized to an apartment in Middle Island, NY. Howard was able to take beautiful trips to Hawaii with his wife Doris, and they would take bus trips with the Columbiettes to Connecticut to play at the casinos.

In 2003, a few or so years after his wife was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s disease, Howard moved with Doris to Michigan to be near the grandchildren. Howard began the early role of caregiver to Doris eventually taking care of everything. His unwavering love, dedication and devotion to Doris only grew and matured from the bright budding spring of joy to the autumnal warmth of love that never ends or tires. Howard spent over 20 years as the loving and devoted primary caregiver for his wife into the advanced stage of Alzheimer’s disease. During this time, Howard continued his steady, strong and positive ways as the patriarch of the family. He played chess online with people all over the world, he drove to NY for birthday parties with their grandchildren, loved Puerto Rican turkey, made concoctions with oatmeal and cheese on ricecakes, sparking apple cider, and lots of raspberry sorbet. He was known to be a kind, charming, giving and wonderful man who many had the pleasure and treasure of knowing. He kept the music playing for us all to admire in awe, enjoy, and dance our family’s dance of life to. We cherished every moment together and thanked God for the gift of every day, every call, every email, every smile, every look in each other’s eyes, and every deep stern voice of strong will until he left to be with the Lord at 2:14 pm on April 5, 2021. Howard will live on in us as he resides in the heartstrings of our spirits and souls and as we pass on the unwavering strength and depth of love that Howard gave to us.

Cherishing his memory and loving spirit are his wife, Doris, daughter and son-in-law, Dorene and Michael Polcari, daughter and son-in-law, Vanessa and John T. Grayson, Jr., son and daughter-in-law, Khary and Migdalia Price, sister, Joan Gray, sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Casey Morris, Sr., granddaughter, Sabrina Price, grandsons, William Grayson, Khary Price, Jr., Mikyle Polcari, Andre Polcari, and John C. Grayson, niece, Nicole Gray, nephews, Casey Morris, Jr., Raymond Morris, great-nieces, Dominique Gray, Crysten Baxter, Addison Morris, great-nephews, Raymond Morris, Jr., a host of beloved relatives, and deeply devoted friends.

“…Take my love, for love is everlasting, and remember the truth that once was spoken, to love another person is to see the face of God…” Epilogue, Les Miserables

We, the family members are using this medium to express our deep and sincere gratitude to all those who have reached out to us in our time of bereavement. We pray that you will continue to keep us in your prayers and thoughts as we deal with the difficult and uncertain days ahead. We know that God’s grace and peace are sufficient. And it is with that knowledge and belief that we will walk by faith each new day step by step, moment by moment.