The world has lost some awesomeness this past week.
My friend, Howard Koester passed away. He was a mere 85 years old. Some may say that 85 is a long time, that he led a full life, and they are right on both accounts. That point, however does not make it any easier.
I was blessed as a child to have few friends or family die (literally, I can think of two deaths) - and as I have said before - that good fortune as a child has turned into a curse as an adult - time has caught up, and truly stands still for no one. Time does not care that your friend was ornery as all get out. Time does not spare 85 year old W.o.W players. It should.
I could sit for hours with Howard and talk politics. He always encouraged thought and political reasoning. Howard had seen a lot of change, both good and bad, and I was fortunate enough for him to tell me parts of his story.
I met Howard and his amazing wife, Gail in 1998, while we all lived in South Lake Tahoe. The following summer, they moved to Port Ludlow, Wa - though we never lost touch, even if communication was sporadic at best. When I married, and later when my husband joined the Army as a pilot - we had a renewed bond with Howard. We adopted him and Gail as family (some of the best family a person can have is the family they CHOOSE to be a part of) - we moved to Korea, and then to Germany. Without a doubt, Howard was a part of each move - we always sent him gear from whatever unit we were a part of, and were proud to call him friend. As the last couple of years passed, we saw each other less and less - emails became less frequent. Time once again has moved along, not caring for those of us who want to get out of its way.
Howard touched each and every one of us. He lived vicariously through my husband, he sat patiently and talked with me, and he showed my daughter the world of online gaming...
we will miss you my friend, we will miss you.
Below is Howard's obituary - so that you can see just a piece of the amazing man he was, and of the many, many accomplishments he held.
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LCDR Edwin Howard Koester, USNR (Ret.)
August 29, 1926 - July 24, 2012
LCDR Edwin "Howard" Koester, USNR (Ret.) died peacefully at home in Port Ludlow, WA on the 24th of July with his wife Gail and his pets, Ellie and Oliver, at his side. He lived a long and full life and was loved and respected by many.
Howard was born on August 29, 1929 in Erie, PA to Emma K. and Edwin R. Koester. His early years were spent in Northeast, PA in a home his father had built. Howard attended a one-room schoolhouse, Putnam School, with 21 students in eight grades. He attended Northeast High School from age 13 to age 16 where he played trumpet in the school band and orchestra, acted and danced in plays, played basketball on the Junior Varsity team, and was a member of the debate team. Howard began competing for an appointment to the US Naval Academy at Annapolis and attended Naval Academy prep schools Randles and Columbian in Washington, D.C.
Howard entered the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD in June, 1944 (wartime class of 1948A) and graduated after three years in June, 1947. Howard was accepted to several medical schools and aspired to become a physician but the war caused him to change his life direction. His military service included attending the Naval Language School at Anacostia, VA. Howard was certified as a translator and interpreter in Russian in 1948 and served in the Naval Security Agency in Washington D.C., then the Armed Forces Security Agency out of Arlington, VA. A highlight for Howard during this time was a submarine tour of duty. He especially bonded to his sub shipmates and savored the entire experience. Other tours included deployment with Admiral Sherman's staff (6th Fleet) in the Mediterranean Sea and then in Wahiawa, HI.
In December, 1952 Howard entered flight training at Pensacola, FL and was awarded wings in April, 1954. His first assignment was VC-35 Skyraiders out of NAS North Island. He served as Operations Officer of VAN Team George, a night, all-weather carrier attack specialist team. He trained to carry and deliver the 30 KT Mark 7 bomb off the aircraft carriers. He resigned from Navy active duty in 1956 after over 100 landings on the USS Hancock (CV-19). Howard was awarded numerous medals, commendations and citations during his active military duty.
Following active duty, Howard's varied careers included work at the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in Pasadena, CA as a Research Engineer from 1956 to 1972. He managed the Experimental Test Operations Group of over 40 engineers and technicians working on the original Mars entry capsule in 20-inch and 21-inch wind tunnels. One exciting experience as a member of the JPL technical staff was testing a counter mortar system in combat in Viet Nam in 1967.
Howard was honored to be chosen by the National Science Foundation as one of over 2, 000 applicants to act as technology transfer agents to apply modern management and technology gained in the space program to state and local government. He worked two years in this role at the City of Pasadena, CA as a representative for the Urban Technology System. Howard co-authored "Public Management Systems - An Administrator's Guide" published by the American Management Association. Howard later served as project manager of a neonatal research program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and based at Martin Luther Jr. King Hospital-Drew Postgraduate Medical School located in Watts, CA. One project involved developing and testing fetal heart monitors.
He worked as an independent consultant as a mechanical engineer and energy management specialist in his own business, Applied Resource Management, Inc. out of El Dorado Hills, CA from 1977 to 1991. He acted as the energy coordinator for twelve counties under contract to the California Energy Commission conducting energy workshops and performing energy audits. From 1981 to 1984, Howard served as the Assistant State Director and Director of Engineering and Training for Energy Management Institute of California (EMI-CA). This model of training and certifying mechanical contractors to better design, maintain and retrofit client facilities to reduce energy costs was used as a model to create "EMI's" in other states.
Howard worked five years with Kitchell CEM out of Sacramento, California as Chief Engineer and Manager of the Engineering Department managing a multi-billion dollar prison construction program contract with the State of California. His last position before retiring in 1994 was as a Project/Construction Manager with the architects and engineers of the UC Davis Medical Center.
Howard's passions were many. He adored his family and spent much time vacationing and engaging with family and friends in his favorite pastimes of boating, hiking, golfing, cycling, skiing, flying and travel. He loved his pets, and his dog Ellie and cat Oliver gave him special joy and pleasure in his later years. He excelled in many of his pursuits and was constantly seeking new interests and challenges in life.
After retiring, Howard and his wife Gail moved to South Lake Tahoe where he especially enjoyed skiing, hiking, golfing and boating. He served in the Coast Guard Auxiliary and also as an "Ambassador" at the Lake Tahoe Golf Course. He qualified to teach skiing at Sierra Ski Ranch at 70 years of age.
Howard and Gail moved to Port Ludlow, WA in February, 2000. Howard was active in his community and served as a Director on the Timberton Village Homeowners' Association Board and the South Bay Community Association Board. Howard and Gail continued to cruise in the family boat "Patience" and enjoyed membership in the Port Ludlow Yacht Club and served in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Howard was also a member of the Association of Naval Aviation and the Port Ludlow Golf Club. After his pulmonary illness forced retirement from active pursuits, Gail and Howard focused on RV road cruising and mental challenges such as "World of Warcraft" computer games. Howard dearly loved living in Port Ludlow, his "little bit of paradise on earth" and very much valued his wonderful friends and colleagues and the beauty of the area.
Howard is preceded in death by his parents, and Ralph and Carl Koester, his adopted sons of his former wife Mary Tipton. Survivors include his wife Gail; son Eric Garland, O'Fallon, MO from Howard's former marriage to Virginia Knaust; daughter Robyn Peterson (Barry), Springfield, OR; stepdaughters Paige Goganian (Achod) of Portland, OR, and Kristen Rankin (David) of Placerville, CA; six grandchildren Andrea, Evan, Ian, Alexis, Nicholas and Eudora; and six great-grandchildren Cadence, Colby, Tanner, Alec, Caleb, and Liam.
Howard was grateful for the care given to him from Hospice of Jefferson Healthcare.
