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Jim Garrett · 11-01-2021, 11:37 AM

John Howard, a longtime friend of the Surratt Society and tour guide for the Booth Escape Route Tours is critically ill. He was suffered multiple heart attacks in the last week and is in the Critical Care Unit at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.

Please keep John in your thoughts and prayers

RJNorton · 11-01-2021, 01:42 PM

That is sad news, Jim. We all hope for a positive outcome. John is a member here, and has posted using the name Francis Farrell.

Steve · 11-01-2021, 05:20 PM

This is sad to hear. I second Roger in hoping for a positive outcome.

Eva Elisabeth · 11-01-2021, 07:40 PM

I, too, am sad to hear this and wish him all the best!!

Rob Wick · 11-01-2021, 07:55 PM

Hopeful for a complete recovery. Best wishes John!

Best
Rob

Jim Garrett · 11-02-2021, 06:42 PM

I am heartbroken to report that my best friend, John Howard has passed away.

wpbinzel · 11-03-2021, 09:23 PM

John was a very good friend, and we spent many hours together on BERT buses, and made it a point to have dinner together afterwards. I will miss him, but will forever be grateful that I knew him and that we were friends.

Steve · 11-04-2021, 12:23 AM

I am sorry to hear of his passing.

LincolnMan · 11-04-2021, 06:35 AM

So sorry for your loss Jim.

STS Lincolnite · 11-04-2021, 08:59 AM

I missed the original post and am shocked and heartbroken to learn of John's passing. John was one of the group of us who sat around the lobby of the Colony South Hotel on the Friday before the Surratt Conference each year and "swapped stories." John gave me some valued advice that I have put to use in some of the projects I have been working on. John was a friend and will be greatly missed.

BettyO · 11-04-2021, 10:56 AM

So very sorry to hear of John's passing. He will be deeply missed - a wonderful scholar and gentleman...

RJNorton · 11-04-2021, 03:01 PM

Many thanks to Bill Binzel for sending this photo. Bill writes, "From left to right, it's John Howard, Bill Richter, Fred Hatch, and Richard Sloan. I took the picture in 2012, and one of the reasons I think it special is that it was taken at the site of the Garrett farmhouse in Caroline County, VA, a site that is now closed to the public."

Rob Wick · 11-04-2021, 07:50 PM

Saddened to hear of John's passing. My sympathies to his family and all those who knew him.

Best
Rob

Eva Elisabeth · (This post was last modified: 11-05-2021 09:35 AM by Eva Elisabeth.)

I second everyone - I am so shocked and sorry to read this. He was the most fantastic and knowledgeable tour guide on the BERT tour I took in 2015. Michael Kauffman was booked to lead the tour but canceled at last minute, and John took over. While I originally had been looking forward to the VIP, I afterwards was happy he didn't come - John was unbeatable in both, the depth of information he presented and the passionate way he did it.

Susan Higginbotham · 11-06-2021, 11:30 AM

Very sorry to hear this.