Howard Abbott, Jr.

His family regrets to announce the passing of Howard Maxwell Abbott, Jr., lately of Attleboro, MA.  Howard was born to Howard Maxwell Abbott, Sr. & Marie Fieger Abbott just outside Pittsburgh, PA, in Castle Shannon in 1936.  The family soon moved to New York - first Tarrytown, then Scarsdale, where Howard spent most of his youth with older sister, Shirley Abbott (later Carter), and cousin, Charles (Chuck) Hopson.  A lover of the outdoors, Howard spent summers with Camp Lanakila in Fairlee, VT, and went on to become an Eagle Scout through the Boy Scouts of America.  After graduating high school in 1954, he went on to Williams College in Williamstown, MA.  He graduated with a Bachelors' degree in American History with the Class of 1958 and would remain a loyal Williams alumnus and supporter for his entire life.  After earning a Masters' degree in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University, he spent the early part of his career in that field.  Married to Barbara Haas in 1963, the new couple spent two years living in Rotterdam, Holland, where they traveled extensively while Howard worked for Cal-Tex.  After returning to the U.S., Howard & Barbara welcomed their two children in 1968 and 1972.  Fueled in large part by his life-long passion as an artist, in 1976 Howard struck out on his own to form Wilcor Associates - an independent firm that worked in graphic design, computer graphics, advertising and education.  He taught classes through Fairfield University, as well, and spent many years affiliated with Southport Congregational Church in Connecticut where he served as both a Deacon and a teacher.  A voracious reader and book collector, he nurtured particular passions for history, art, theology and all things Disney.  Widely known for his kindness and sense of humor, Howard was quick to earn the affection of those around him.  He is survived by his two children, Susan L. Abbott of West Tisbury, MA, and Steven H. Abbott of Hanover, NH, as well as their mother, Barbara H. Abbott of Trumbull, CT, and son-in-law David W. Schweizer of West Tisbury, MA.