Jess Anderson writes: Howard left this life at about 1:30 a.m. LA time June 2. He was a very private person and did not want any hoopla surrounding his death.
Yes, that was Howard. But he was the most adamantly out-as-a-PWA PWA I've ever known. In piecing together when and where he may have become symptomatic, it seems likely to have taken place in Sicily in the late summer (I think) of 1989. Almost six years of grit, determination, fortitude, guts -- you name it, all laced with his wit and unbelievable store of knowledge about absolutely everything. (Kevin: "Let's ask Howard. Howard knows everything.")
I'll be offering a toast to my fine friend at 5:00 this afternoon, over some delicious food, with a good red wine. Feel free to join, wherever you are.
No more fitting gesture can be imagined. I know he would have loved
the wines we (Ken and Alan and Ellen and, briefly, his brother
Scott) drank with our leisurely (hey, I cooked it!) multi-course
dinner tonight. Howard, if you're reading this >from wherever,
what we had was: a 1990 "J" sparkling wine, a 1992 Domaine Drouhin
(courtesy of Ellen), a 1982 Chateau Leoville Barton (courtesy of
Alan), and a 1986 Navarro White Riesling (courtesy of Ken). They
were all delicious beyond belief and I know you would have loved
them. What you would have thought of the food is a different
question.
