Lawrence Cabot Howard

Lawrence Cabot Howard, better known as “Lonny” or “Larry”, was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1925, the third son of Charles P. Howard and Maude Lewis. He graduated from East High in Des Moines, where he excelled in academics and on the track team and worked on his father’s newspaper, the Observer, which at its peak had a six-state circulation.    He served in the army in the Pacific theater from 1943-45 during World War Two where he wrote a column in the Stars and Stripes called The General Speaks. He graduated from Drake University in 1949 and then obtained a master’s degree at Wayne State in 1950. He then went to Harvard University where he received a Ph.D. in political science in 1956 and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. While in graduate school, he took a life changing trip to Africa which kindled a deep professional interest in development in sub Saharan Africa.

After graduation, he taught at Hofstra University (1956-1958) and Brandeis University (1958-1961, 1963) and then served as an associate director of the Peace Corps, stationed in Manila and Dumaguete City from 1961-1963.  He then worked as an associate director of the Center of Innovation, New York State Department of Education, in Albany NY.  In 1964, he moved to Milwaukee, where he served as the director of the Institute of Human Relations at the University of Wisconsin (1964-1967).   He was recruited to become Vice President of the Danforth Foundation in St Louis (1967-69).  In 1969, he assumed the position of Dean of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.  From 1973 until he retired, he continued as professor emeritus where his area of expertise included development of sub-Saharan Africa.  During this time, he took a sabbatical in Maiduguri, in north east Nigeria, as a Fulbright Scholar.  He also worked closely with the federal government of the Bahamas as a consultant assisting with public administration policy management.

His publications included Public Administration and Public Policy: A Minority Perspective, and Public Administration: Balancing Power and Accountability. He served on many professional, charitable and civic boards including the Committee on Economic Development, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; the Advisory Commission of Teachers Corp; the Pittsburgh World Affairs Council; the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation; the American Society of Public Administration, and the Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA). He was a Trustee for the Church Society for College Work; Drake University; St Augustine College; the Episcopal Church Home; and the Harvard Graduate Society for the Advancement of Study and Research. He also served as a Vestryman at Calvary Church, and was a member the Standing Committee of Ecumenical Relations of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Larry was a true romantic.  After proposing on the Anderson Memorial bridge that spans the Charles River in Cambridge, on New Year’s Eve, 1952, Larry married the love of his life, Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard on Valentine’s Day, 1953 and remained devoted to her his entire life. They had three daughters, Jane, Susan and Laura.  In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by three grandchildren, Sarah, Jonathan and Naomi; four nephews, Joey, Chucky, Chaz and Jeffrey; one niece, Trina; five grandnieces, Ava, Rissa, Anna and Evie and Ava Tracey; and one grandnephew, Jack.  

Larry was deeply committed to social justice for people of color.  He mentored many students.  He took his children to protest marches and enrolled them in freedom schools.  He found ways to support men who were struggling by providing odd jobs or investing in their endeavors. He was quick to indict racism, whether individual or institutional.

Larry loved football and corn on the cob, dogs and popcorn, singing and bicycling to work, photography, political debates and Martha’s Vineyard.   

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Lawrence Cabot Howard Doctoral Research Award, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Institutional Advancement, 128 North Craig St., Pittsburgh, PA  15260.

Arrangements entrusted to ANTHONY M. MUSMANNO FUNERAL HOME, INC.

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