Submitted by: Dan Rich

Terald W. Howard

Dec. 13, 1938 - Feb. 15, 2000

South Bend Tribune 2/18/2000

Terald W. "Terry" Howard, 61, of Lupine Lane, Granger, Ind., died in his residence at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 15, surrounded by all his children and caregivers. He was born on Dec. 13, 1938, in Merrill, Wis., to Florence (Lemke) and Wilbur Howard, who preceded him in death.

On May 31, 1980, in South Bend, he married Linda Harman, who survives. Mr. Howard is also survived by a daughter, Julie Ann Soens of Tulsa, Okla.; five sons, Timothy (Sheryl) Howard of Mason, Mich., Jeffrey (Barbara) Howard of Cincinnati, Ohio, and William, David and Daniel Howard, all of Granger; seven grandchildren, Shelina Howard, Deanna Smith, Nikki Smith, Stephen Smith, Tiffany Van Goey, Jacob Van Goey and Michael Howard; and by two brothers, Glen Howard of Carrizozo, N.M., and Lester Howard of Juneau, Alaska.

Mr. Howard came to this area in 1956 and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in music from the University of Notre Dame. He taught band and strings at area parochial schools, and was band and orchestra director at St. Joseph High School. In the mid 1970s Mr. Howard became a piano technician and did contract work for I.U.S.B., the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and many churches and private customers. He was also the piano tuner for the South Bend and Elkhart symphonies and the Alexander Toradze Piano Studio, and was Artist in Residence at I.U.S.B. where they could call Mr. Howard at any hour to make sure that their instruments were in the best possible playing condition.

Mr. Howard was a member of the South Bend and Elkhart County Symphony Orchestras, and was a piano accompanist for the Elkhart Suzuki String Program. He was a member of the Piano Technicians Guild and was a past president of the Indiana Piano Technicians Guild.

In January 1998 Mr. Howard was diagnosed with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. In September 1999, Christ the King Lutheran Church in South Bend held a special event designated as "Terry Howard Day," at which friends and neighbors raised money to purchase an Eyegaze Computer System, a machine that helps severely disabled people do things by using their eyes rather than their hands or voices. Mr. Howard participated in the ALS research project for Indiana University Medical Center under the direction of Dr. Robert M. Pascuzzi, M.D., who the family would like to thank.

On Oct. 8, 1998, the Elkhart Truth ran an article on Mr. Howard entitled "Quiet Giant." In the article three of the most noted men in the Michiana music scene shared their thoughts of Mr. Howard. Robert W. Demaree, Jr., dean of the Division of Arts at I.U.S.B., said: "Terry Howard is extremely important to us. We couldn't do what we do without him. He has the same significance as the chief mechanic of a racing car, or the trainer of an athletic team. We depend on him day to day and hour to hour."

Alexander "Sasha" Korsantiya, prize-winning pianist and Toradze Piano Studio associate, said: "Terry has really rare qualities. He's a 'piano magician.' He really knows the piano. He does insightful things. You have to have elevated senses. There is some secret in every instrument. For me, it's the piano. Terry knows the secret." Michael Esselstrom, conductor of the Elkhart County Symphony Orchestra, said: "He tunes our (symphony) piano between the dress rehearsal and the concert (6 to 8 p.m. Saturday). Sometimes I go grab a bite in the hall. When I come back, I find Terry with the keyboard in his lap and I'm wondering if it will ever get back together. It always does. He can build a piano from scratch. Terry is a master piano technician. That's very unusual in this area."

Funeral and musical celebration for Mr. Howard will be at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19, in Christ the King Lutheran Church, 17195 Cleveland Road, South Bend. Rev. Steven Schwier, Rev. Russell Snyder, Rev. William K. Harman and Rev. Patrick Maloney, C.S.C., will all participate in the funeral ceremony. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the Welsheimer Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday in the church. Graveside services will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday in the Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola, Ind. The Welsheimer Funeral Home, 17033 Cleveland Road, is handling arrangements. The family has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Terry Howard Fund, in care of First Source Bank, for the purpose of the education of the younger children. Special thanks is to be given to Hospice of St. Joseph County, Hospice volunteers, and to faithful caregivers Wendy Behr, Mark Mayfield, Susan Mueller, Carol Flora, Jane Snyder and Stephany Williams.