Rosemary Winfield Howard

Rosemary Winfield Howard peacefully passed away on January 21, 2026, at age 77. She was born on April 24, 1948, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to the late Rosemary W. (Histon) and George W. Hermann. Rosemary's early life was marked by a strong dedication to education and a desire to help others. She graduated from Bunnell High School in 1966 and earned a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Connecticut in 1970, where she was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority. Her pursuit of knowledge led her to obtain an MBA from Centenary College of Louisiana in 1978 and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1996, where she was on Law Review. Her professional career began in New York City, with her first job after college at Apple Records, a British record label founded by the Beatles. She worked for the Department of Defense teaching elementary school in Iceland, followed by a successful tenure at Owens Illinois, where she distinguished herself as a woman breaking barriers in the manufacturing industry. Rosemary later returned to school to earn her law degree, passed the bar, and practiced law in Connecticut and Florida. Both professionally and personally, Rosemary was known for her caring guidance and support in educating and empowering others. She was a passionate and talented tennis player who also enjoyed puzzles and games of chance. She was an active member of the Club Continental, Magnolia Point, and Eagle Harbor tennis teams. In 2016, she played on the Eagle Harbor 65-and-over team, winning the State title and finishing third at Nationals. However, her greatest happiness came from spending time with her husband, family, friends, and especially her granddaughter, Kennedy.

Rosemary is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Captain Robert M. Howard, U.S. Navy (Ret.), and their children: Michael Howard (Amanda), David Howard, and stepdaughter Sarah Howard (Robert). She also leaves behind her cherished granddaughter, Kennedy Rose Howard. Her siblings include sisters Ann Dawkins of Temecula, CA, Susan Lance (Skip) of Stratford, CT, Jane Bourdeau of Cheshire, CT, and Martha Bodington (Drew) of Stratford, CT, as well as her brother, George Hermann (Janine) of Suffield, CT. She was predeceased by her sister Kathleen Hermann and is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on February 3, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at St Catherine's Catholic Church, located at 1649 Kingsley Ave, Orange Park, FL, 32073. The Funeral Service will follow on the same day, February 3, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the same location. A reception will follow.

The burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.

In honor of Rosemary Howard's love for tennis and her long-time support of Tennis4Cancer, donations may be made in her memory.

Tennis4Cancer is a tournament organized by the Eagle Harbor Tennis community in partnership with the Rotary Club of Orange Park Sunrise.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/tennis4cancer-donation-in-honor-of-rosemary-howard