In Loving Memory of Richard Howard
MAC mourns the passing of Richard Howard, a dedicated 12-year Board member. A tireless advocate for children with disabilities, mentor, and champion, his legal accomplishments transformed special education law and practice. Richard's enduring legacy is the generations of advocates he inspired and the countless children whose lives he improved, a legacy that will continue to guide MAC's mission. We invite you to read more about Richard’s impact below and to share memories of Richard with us by connecting here.
Richard Howard Obituary
HOWARD, Richard Fontaine Of Ipswich, Massachusetts, was born on April 21, 1948, in Montgomery Alabama and died on Friday, May 9, 2025.
After graduating from Davidson College in North Carolina, he traveled north to Boston, where he met his future wife, Nancy (Sargent). In Boston, they both began working with children with mental health disabilities, with Richard performing his service as a conscientious objector and Nancy an independent study at Boston University. They married in Annisquam while Richard was in law school at Boston University and Nancy was studying for a master's degree. Their daughter, Madeline, was born in Maine, where Richard was an assistant attorney general. The family then returned to Massachusetts, where Malcom was born. There, Richard continued his legal advocacy on behalf of children with disabilities.
After several years as the director of the Disability Law Center, he joined Kotin, Crabtree & Strong and continued to represent children with disabilities and their families. He continued this work through the last years of his practice and established his own firm in Ipswich. During his lengthy career, he litigated precedent setting cases and helped countless children achieve their maximum potential.
He was beloved by his colleagues for his optimism and capacity to see possibility. He was always willing to mentor new lawyers in public service. In his retirement and up until his death, he continued this work by serving on the Board of Massachusetts Advocates for Children.
He participated in many local activities, including the Ipswich Finance Committee, the Town Democratic Committee and the Board of Ipswich River Watershed Association.
Richard is survived by his wife of 52 years, Nancy; his children, Madeline Howard and Malcolm Howard; his sister, Jennifer Howard; his brother-in-law, Jon Zimring; son-in-law, Rob Onorato; daughter-in-law, Erin Levernick; and his grandchildren, Silas, Miles, Keira and Graham.
His many friends and family remember him for his infectious chuckle and the ever-present twinkle in his eye.