Comments for

Comment on by Dave Maltz

Dave Maltz — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:41:01 +0000

Howard – you brought a lot of groove to grad school, and a lot of kindness to the world.

Rest easy.

-dam

Comment on by Erik Riedel

Erik Riedel — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:32:00 +0000

I can’t believe that it has been an entire year. For most of us it has been even longer since we saw or talked to or text messaged with Howard.

I know that I have tried to use the opportunity over the past year to reconnect and talk to, or email, or facebook with friends that I have not stayed in touch with enough.

Often the hectic life and day-to-day concerns of modern living limits our ability to stay in touch as much as we might like, but the efforts fall into the important-not-urgent category that must be attended to.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank again all those who posted their thoughts here for friends and family and perhaps the occasional passer-by to read. Also thanks to those who sent messages and shared stories in other forms electronic and in person. I am sure that I can speak for Howard’s family in expressing heartfelt thanks to everyone who took the time.

Heartfelt thanks to everyone who took the time to spend with Howie when he was with us, and heartfelt thanks to everyone who took the time to share a small part of those experiences now that he is gone.

Best wishes to all who read this, and best of luck staying connected to each other.

We will continue to keep this site active as long as the hit stats keep increasing.

Best wishes, Erik

Comment on by Miki Ikeda

Miki Ikeda — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:06:40 +0000

Hey, Howard!
I still can not believe that you are not here in the earth anymore. Yeah, I was attended at your memorial service on Saturday, March 29, 2009 in NYC. Many people were there and I introduced them how I met you through Mixi.

I have not written anything here(BBS) till today, because it was tough for me to understand why you needed to leave here. Well, I have been thinking many things since you passed away.(ie. life, carrer, health, family, happiness…)
Anyway, I have learned many things from you/your life. Arigato!

By the way, today is a New Year’s Eve of 2008.
Last year’s New Year’s Eve, we had a great party at your apartment.
You were the great party host and you made your favorite music/movie clips for the party.
Nice people, Champagne and nice talks.
We had a great nite and we got started a new year of 2008 at your apartment!
It was the great beginning of 2008. Yeah, it was…

Ok, the year 2008 is almost done.
Do not worry we never ever forget you!
You are here in our heart.
We will have happy new year 2009 together, ok?

love,

***Miki
ps)Hey, I miss your text messages, btw.
ps2) I finally got a full-time job in NYC this February and I enjoy living in NYC like you did.

Comment on by Ed N

Ed N — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:37:35 +0000

I just heard about Howard and was taken by surprise by his passing. I went to high school with Howie like Darren. I just remember a person who was passionate about what he enjoyed, acted a little goofy at times (wasn’t everyone in high school), was a bit of a character, was very smart especially in computer science and did his best being a good friend to everyone. He was always himself – no pretense or facade ever.

Something that few people probably know or remember was that his mother worked at the high school. So, we saw the loving relationship between himself and his mom. That’s a difficult thing to handle in high school. Howie did well.

Howie, you’ll be missed. I can’t believe I won’t be able to hear your distinct guffaw when I used to say silly stuff.
Rest in Peace…

Comment on by Darren G.

Darren G. — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:54:22 +0000

I went to High School with Howie. I really didn’t know him very well, but everything I knew of him was positive. When I heard that he worked for Google, I thought that was great…he’s exactly the kind of person I would want to work at Google to represent “don’t be evil.”

Comment on by Ellen Bastos

Ellen Bastos — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:38:25 +0000

Hi, my name is Ellen, I am the middle cousin, 1 Year appart from both Howie and Neil. We were always together as we were younger and I always looked up to and still do to both Neil and the achievments of Howies. They as brothers and as my cousin, have taught me some valuable lessons in life and have always been my mentors. Howie, when he was still here loved my children as though they were his. I was so excited that my kids loved Howie and always excited when he was coming over for the holidays. They loved to just sit with him and spend time talking to him and hearing all about his world ventures. Neil is the best brother anyone could ask for, when needed he was there through all of the turmoil and took control over the things that where left undone. I look up to my cousin Neil as my mentor and still do feel strongly, Howie is there to help watch over me and my family. It’s tragic and sad that someone of his age had to leave us so soon, he had so much to share with everyone. We love you Howie and your not one minute passed over without a thought. I love You, me,ellen

Comment on by Lin Chase

Lin Chase — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:58:15 +0000

I lived with Howard in a group house during graduate school at Carnegie Mellon, and we remained friends after he moved to California. I loved him dearly and he drove me mad, too, in some of our arguments. He took me to concerts of bands I’d never heard of and we danced like crazy. He chose silence and privacy when I dearly wanted him to talk and open up. He was funny and fun to be around, and he was beautiful. I’ve never seen hair like his. I’m so sorry he’s gone. It feels like he was always just out of reach, and now I guess that’s a permanent thing. I’m very glad I knew him.

Comment on by Sarel Kromer

Sarel Kromer — Tue, 13 May 2008 01:42:35 +0000

It was fall of 1983 when we met Howard, and I still picture his smile. Our families were both in Winchester, Mass for a year before us moving and Sharon, Bruce, Howie, and Neil returning to the Washington area. It was a difficult transition year for us; the Gobioff family made us feel at home in Winchester and we knew we would have them as close friends when we completed our next move to DC. We have remained lifelong friends, and we will all miss you, Howie. Sharon, Bruce, Neil, and Gianna, please know how much we care.
Love, Sarel, Philip, Mark, and Matt

Comment on by Ruchi, on behalf of, Mike Chang

Ruchi, on behalf of, Mike Chang — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:54:34 +0000

some words about Howard…

It’s really heartbreaking to think that Howard’s gone. We had been exchanging emails intermittently since college, and met up for lunch every couple of years. His last email to me was in mid-January while exchanging New Years pleasantries. I had been meaning to respond back and it has been recurringly painful to me that I procrastinated and never got around to it.

Howard was a good guy and I’ll miss him. I first met Howard in intro Comp Sci, and we became friends after rolling our eyes over the ANSI Pascal that the class was being taught in. I do remember that everything seemed to just came naturally and effortlessly for him. However, he was always happy to help-and he could explain complicated concepts in a really straight forward manner to his classmates that just weren’t quite as quick on the uptake as he was.

One time while meeting up with howard for dinner at the dining hall, he was proudly wearing a tie-dye t-shirt that he and his dorm floor buddies had recently made. It started off a dark blue/purple in our freshman year and quickly faded thru college. He wore it alot, he must have really liked that shirt!

He always seemed to be in good spirits, I think just hanging out and being around friends was what he really liked the most out of life. Laid back and happy as an undergrad with few worries, wearing his tie-dye and wild hair, that’s how I will keep him in my mind’s eye.

Comment on by Winthrop Chan

Winthrop Chan — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:43:51 +0000

I met Howard while I was at UMCP and we were all part of the group that would hang out in the various labs. He was probably the smartest guy I knew there with a quirky sense of humor. My biggest regret is to not have kept better in touch with him over the years.

Howard will live on in the legacy of how he’s touched the people’s lives around him. May he rest in peace.