Richard B How

How, Richard Brian

Richard Brian How, 93, died peacefully in his sleep at home in Ithaca on June 26th, 2012 in the loving company of his family. He was born in Montreal, Canada on July 15th, 1918, to Christian Carr and Richard George How. He graduated from McGill University in 1939, served in the Canadian Armed Forces during WWII, and received his PhD in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University in 1950. Brian was the devoted and loving husband of Janet How, and proud father of Sarah How (Jim Alexander) of Ithaca, Katherine (Jim Conschafter) of Midlothian, VA, and George Martin How (1957-1993). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Stephen Conschafter, Michael (Amanda) Conschafter, Laura (Daniel) Hoffman, and Andrew, Elizabeth, and Peter Alexander; his great-grandchildren, James and Hugh Conschafter; four nieces, Martha Faulkner, Barbara Cooper, Louise Grant and Janet LaJeunesse; and one nephew, Michael Novinger, all of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Hensley of Columbia, MO. He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, George; and his sisters, Lorraine and Anne. After teaching at the University of Saskatchewan and University of Guelph, Ontario, Brian joined the Cornell Department of Agricultural Economics in 1956 and became a Professor and upon his retirement in 1988 an Emeritus Professor. He specialized in the economics of fruit and vegetable marketing and as early as the 1950s was using computational methods in the analysis of economic data. He authored a textbook that was widely used in the field and was an early promoter of direct marketing of NYS produce. He carried out the first studies of the economic aspects of farm wineries in NYS. When World War II broke out he enlisted in the Canadian Army Armored Corps and was trained as a tank driver. In 1944 he was among the Canadian armored divisions that landed at Juno Beach on D-Day, and was in northern Germany heading towards Hamburg when the war ended. He rose to the level of Captain and served in England, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands with the Brigade HQ Intelligence division. During the post-war reconstruction in late 1945 he led truck convoys for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, bringing supplies to nearly every corner of Europe. After retiring from Cornell in 1988 Brian was an active member of the Ithaca community, participating in the Cayuga Rotary Club, driving for FISH, donating his time at Loaves and Fishes, serving on the board of the Protestant Cooperative Ministry at Cornell, and contributing as a Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener, among other activities. He was always active until his health declined - enjoying hiking, camping, canoeing, sailing, skiing, skating and gardening. In his private life he nurtured dozens of friendships and maintained active correspondence with friends he had known for as long as 80 years. As a loving and attentive father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he drove, counseled, taught, and encouraged them, always listening and interested in what each was doing even up to his final day, and never failing to attend their school and sporting events -- even just weeks before his passing. Brian and Janet met as graduate students at Cornell and married in September 1949. Together for 63 years they built their life, family and home, sharing joys and enduring sorrows. Brian was thankful for Janet's loving strength and support for him throughout his life. Brian will be buried at the Greensprings Natural Cemetery on June 29th with a private service. There will be a memorial service to remember and celebrate his long life on Saturday, July 14th, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. at The First Congregational Church, Ithaca, NY. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospicare, The First Congregational Church, and Loaves and Fishes. Bangs Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.