Howard McGrath

After a year long battle for recovery Howard entered into the kingdom of Heaven on May 11th, 2011.Howard is survived by his beloved wife, Anna-Marie, his mother Jeannie Ruyle, step father Dennis Ruyle, Dad Robert Bossardet, Grandmother Margaret Appleton, brothers Tony and Jimmy, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Howard never met a person in need that he turned his back on, never failed to deliver the punch line with his wit and sense of humor. Howard loved life and life loved him. A celebration of Howard’s life will occur on Wednesday May 25th at 4:00 p.m. at South Lawns East Chapel.

Howard McGrath – His Life Story (By his Dad – Butch)

Howard was born on a typically beautiful day in Tucson Arizona at 5:19 a.m. on September 2nd 1968. I think I speak for everyone when I say that the world will be a smaller place without Howard in it. Our memories and our love will be with him and with those of us left behind for ever.

Howard was the first born son of Jeannie Magnus. He was the apple in the eyes of his aunts Linda, Loya, Jan and Davene and especially his grandmother Margaret. By the time Howard reached the age of two he added to his family a second brother Tony. Not that much later Howard had a third brother Jimmy, but in this case he also welcomed into his life his adoptive father Jack McGrath. Jack held a special place in Howard’s life and was very influential during his childhood years. Together the family enjoyed all of the amazing firsts. First tricycle and bicycle. First grade and first little league game. First girlfriend and first best friend. Of course having two brothers the world was an adventure just waiting to happen and together they became a force to be reckoned with. Get out of the way the place belonged to them.

As Howard entered the eighth grade, for reasons long ago forgotten, the family faced difficulties that unfortunately led to their separation. It was decided that Howard, at the age of 12, would stay with family friend Robert Bossardet aka Bob aka Butch. The relationship between the two adapted over 30 years from family friend, to big brother, to guardian to Dad. In the end it was all of the above.

Howard graduated from Junior High School at Foothills Sunrise. His first year of High School was spent at Tucson’s Cholla High School were he formulated life long relationships. Due to requirements of Butch’s job Howard had the opportunity to spend his sophomore year at Clark High School in Las Vegas and his Junior year at The Air Force Academy High School in Colorado Springs. Now if this was not enough being drug around by the collar Howard actually graduated from the place where it all started, with his friends at Cholla High School. Howard used to feel that he was pretty fortunate to have had the opportunity to have made so many friends in so many places during his High School years, and most of those relationships remained in place until his passing.

Shortly after graduation Howard and Butch loaded up the moving van again and headed to Denver Colorado. In Denver Howard secured his first positions in Sales and excelled. How could he not – he was a natural. As a result of another transfer the team ended up in San Francisco where Howard continued his career in sales and sales management. The last and final transfer landed them in Los Angeles where Howard developed skills in Architectural Glass designs and fabrication. By this time Howard had developed into a fine young man who easily formulated friendships, would give the shirt off his back to someone who needed it more than he did, and always was there to listen and never judge. This was who he was until his final moments.

During the years of Howard’s life he had an opportunity to explore this nation from Hawaii to New York. He enjoyed the history of our country and truly enjoyed meeting all of the people and experiencing their differences. Howard also visited Mexico and Canada. On his first “attempted” visit to Canada with his grandfather he was rejected by the “County Mounties”, a long and hilarious story. Howard did however have a chance to visit Canada a couple of years later via British Columbia. In the end they couldn’t keep him out! There are enough stories from these travels to fill a book, stories he enjoyed telling and sharing.

Howard was a major fan of music and movies and of course there were stories to support that love as well. Having Happy Birthday sung to him at age 13 by the entire Steve Miller Band. Sharing cookies with Ringo Starr, cooked by Starr’s mother, and many other major musicians at a recording date in Los Angeles. Also being back stage with Lynard Skynard and being personally reached out to by Paul Rogers of Bad Company. There were many more! Those experiences were not to be outdone. One of his greatest movie memories was having lunch with Jack Nicholson, during a shoot at his place of employment and kept a photo signed to him by Jack as the Joker in the Batman film. Howard would be the first to tell you it was simply a matter of shear luck – being in the right place at the right time. Which he always had a knack for doing.

One of Howard’s greatest tributes was through the Benefit Network in Los Angeles. He was a member of an organization that provided meals every Sunday to the homeless in Santa Monica, secured clothes and presents for needy children at Christmas, and attempted to provide opportunity to those that otherwise had none. This is truly who Howard was – gentle, kind, and caring.

By 2002 and still living in Los Angeles Howard entered into the next phase of his life with a new bride – Anna-Marie. They were married on April 30th, 2002 and were together until Howard’s last moments. Over the course of their 9 year marriage they were faced with many obstacles, not unlike most young couples, but theirs would prove to be more challenging. Even though the mountains were tall and the rivers wide they battled through one adversity after the next but never along the way did they lose their never ending love for each other.

Shortly after their marriage Howard and Anna-Marie relocated from Los Angles back to Tucson Arizona. Howard longed to rekindle his relationships with his mother, grandmother, brothers, aunts and the nieces and nephews that he never really had the chance to be an Uncle to. Thank God he made this decision because by the time of his death he was effectively surrounded by so many grandmothers, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews that he was never alone and experienced the love that only a family and good friends can provide – even if that family came in many shapes and designs. It is important to note that during his final years in Tucson Howard made friends with Paul and Mike Demime – friends that stood by his side through some of his greatest challenges.

In 2009 Howard developed the unexpected – pancreatitis. This cruel and painful disease resulted in many surgeries and what ultimately caused his death. A fall that caused him severe head trauma from which he never recovered. During the final two years of his life Howard was surrounded by his wife, Butch, his mother, stepfather, and all of his family members. He entered into heaven with those he loved by his side.

Howard was one of a kind – a very special person. It is impossible to list all of his attributes as he had so many. My heart now has a gapping hole that will never be filled. We loved our husband, son, grandson, nephew and brother with all of our hearts. As Howard used to quote “Everything is eventual”, yes son it is but the days were far too short and the years not long enough. Go with God Howard we will all be together again “eventually”.