February 6, 2020
Crossman, Howard
Howard W. Crossman, a resident of Dedham, passed away on February 3, 2020 at the age of 80. Born in Cambridge, MA the son of Howard L. Crossman and Florence E. Wakelam. Growing up in Milton, MA and graduating from Milton High School, Class of 1959, he then went on to attend Suffolk University. In 1960 Howard and his mother moved to Dedham. His father had passed away in 1955. Early in his career he was a youth counselor in the town. He later became a parole officer for Norfolk County until his retirement. Howard’s dedication was helping those less fortunate. He volunteered in shelters and maintained correspondence with some of the men he knew that were incarcerated. He had several interests. Howard loved driving classic cars. He was an active member of the Bay State Antique Auto Club. His pride and joy was his 1970 Volvo sedan which he kept in mint condition. A lover of movies and music, he possessed an extensive collection of DVD’s, videos and CD’s which ranged from the classics to modern. Howard didn’t have any family in the United States but did have several cousins in England; Florence and Kenneth Jepson, Madge and Robert Hope, Paul Wakelem, Janet Homer, Maureen Ann Billingham, Jennifer Mary Walters, Helen Wendy Jones, Eric Kenneth Thursfield and Anthony William Thursfield along with his second cousins; Angela Jepson, Jeremy Jepson, Adrian Fereday and Edwin Fereday. Howard and his family would frequently exchange visits with each other. Although he was intensely private and independent, he was beloved by his friends, neighbors and the members of Allin Congregational Church in Dedham which he attended every Sunday. He will be missed! Friends are invited to attend his funeral service at graveside on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 12:30PM in Milton Cemetery, 211 Centre St., Milton, MA where he will be laid to rest with his parents.
Comments(10)
Howard`s easy going personality and kindness will be missed as well as his contributions to the Allin Church.
May God bless his soul eternally.
Howard was a wonderful,kind gentleman who will be deeply missed @ Allin Church.
We are deeply saddened at Howard’s passing. As members of Allin’s choir it was always a pleasure to see him sitting in his pew and smiling as we rehearsed before the Sunday service. He was such a kind and gentle man; he will be missed at Allin Church.
Howard and I judged trucks together for several BSAAC Car shows and I always was impressed by his quiet but thorough approach.
I was fortunate to be able to see him near the end at his home when he was still communicative and a few days later sing with Mark Small an old friend from Explorer Scouts on guitar on his last afternoon. We sent him off with love.
Drew Sullivan – BSAAC President
It’s heartening to read all of the above comments about Howard. His kind and gentle nature and quiet, intelligent approach to life secured him a place in the hearts of all his family here in the UK. I know he’ll be very much missed by them, and especially by Florence, my mum, who, along with other family members, spent many good times with Howard, both here and in the USA.
God rest Howard, may you rest in peace.
I was honored to get to know Howard in his final days. He was a gentle soul. My condolences especially to Linda D and to all his friends at Allin Congregational Church. Godspeed friend. -Wayne Earl
On behalf of John and Althea Wallace and Jack and Arlene Appleton I want to express condolences for the many years of friendship so long ago
My parents and I go back a long way with Howard and his family through
my mother’s work years at Devotion School in Brookline with aunr Elsie B.
Crossman. I am sad to perhaps be late in this message.
More may perhaps follow after I organize my thoughts. He
wiil be missed. We had many good times years ago, in Dedham, Mattapan (Centre street, perhaps) and Bolton, all of
Massachusetts
A story that Howard told me verbally years ago:
He flew from Boston to England to see family, 7AM, 9/11/2001.
There was a small group of passengers that tried to board late, but were no allowed because there would have been little time for security to vet them. On the way to England, the captain announced there’s a problem in America, we will be diverting from Heathrow to [a small airport in Wales]. after an adventurous landing on the short runway, local passengers used Howard’s portable radio to hear the news. They were kept on the plane and thoroughly interviewed by police. They all took it in stride but for one “tough guy” who had been boisterous through the flight – he lost his composure even though safe.
Howard was a friend to my late mother, Elizabeth Bryant. My sisters and I met him a number of times when he came to our family events, and when we sometimes accompanied my mother to church at Allin Congregational. I was sorry to learn (belatedly) of his death and regret I did not attend the celebration of his life at the time. He was always very quiet but very nice to my mother and family.