John "Jay" Howard

John J. Howard Jr., 85, of Bethlehem died Sunday April 22, 2018 at Holy Family Manor. He was born January 3, 1933 to the late John J Howard Sr. and Anne M. (Santa Maria) Howard. Jay is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years Claire (Hutchinson).

Jay graduated from Bethlehem High School (Liberty) in 1951 and attended both Cornell University where he started varsity baseball as a lefty pitcher and Gettysburg College, graduating with a degree in Chemistry. He proudly served in the US Army stationed in Tokyo during the Korean Conflict. Jay started his professional career as a chemical engineer at Dixie Cup in Easton but quickly discovered his passion for sales and spent the next 39 years as a sales engineer for UGI Utilities. He served on the board of directors of Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority for 8 years. A devout Catholic, he was an active parishioner of St Anne's Catholic Church, Bethlehem.

His passion for sports was evident in his talent as a PIAA basketball official for over 50 years, where he refereed men's and women's high school and college basketball in and around Eastern Pennsylvania. He also officiated basketball for Bethlehem City Leagues and the Allentown Jewish Community Center. An avid golfer, Jay had four lifetime "holes-in-one" to his credit. A member of Saucon Valley Country Club for 38 years, he won the 1990 Lawrence G Bell Senior Member-Guest golf tournament with his longtime golf partner Fritz Toner. On those rare occasions when he was not on the basketball court or golf course, he could be found spending time with his family in Stone Harbor NJ teaching his grandsons Shane and Hugh how to swing a golf club or shoot foul shots.

Jay will be dearly missed by his wife Claire, daughters Mimi Howard of Locust Valley NY and Christina Howard Trexler (Jonathan) of Phoenixville, PA ; son John J Howard III of Saratoga Springs NY; brother Peter of Bethlehem and his two grandsons Shane Jeavons McConnell and Hugh Howard Trexler of Phoenixville PA. He was preceded in death by his sister Anne Howard Rice and his brother Thomas Gerald (Jerry) Howard.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connell Funeral Home. The family will receive guests Friday April 27th from 9:30am to 11:00am at St Anne's Catholic Church, 450 E. Washington Ave. Bethlehem PA 18017. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00am. Interment will be held at Holy Saviour Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Alzheimers Association, 215-561-2919. Condolences may be offered at www.connellfuneral.com.

Funeral HomeConnell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA - 18018
US
610-868-8531