John Dennis Howard

John was born on March 29, 1983, in Jacksonville, FL, to Dennis Howard and Fran Aenchbacher. From an early age, John was an avid baseball player making lifelong friends beginning in little league and continuing throughout his time as a catcher at University Christian School. John went on to attend Florida State University where he earned degrees in History and Criminology. John was a member of Riverside Presbyterian Church and his involvement in the fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons was one of his life’s passions. He was a member of Jackson Lodge #1 in Tallahassee, and even though he moved away he continued to be connected to Jackson Lodge and be an active Freemason wherever he was. Having his grandfather, John Paul Howard, present to “raise him” to a third-degree Master Mason in November of 2006 was one of John’s proudest moments. Throughout John’s life, he held a variety of roles in the hospitality industry including his time at Outback Steakhouse in Tallahassee where he made a group of friends that he would cherish for the rest of his life.

John was preceded in death by his father Dennis Howard and grandparents Kenneth Aenchbacher, Jeanne Aenchbacher, John Paul Howard, and Mary Louise Howard, uncle, Scott Howard, and aunt, Mary Kay Aenchbacher Craigue.

John is survived by his mother, Fran Aenchbacher (Gary Bowers), sister, Ellen Howard Agrella (Matthew Agrella), niece, Eloise Anne Agrella, uncle Roy Craigue, aunts Sharon Howard Tanner, Elizabeth Howard, and Dianne Aenchbacher Field (John Field), cousins Haley Tanner Stuart (Christopher Stuart), Emily Zellner Stephenson (Michael Stephenson), Brian Zellner (Alyson Zellner), Andrew Field, and Scott Paul Howard, Jr., his love, Ashley Nolan Helmick, and many beloved friends spanning from his childhood at Ortega Elementary School throughout his adult life.

John had a deep love for animals and shared 17 wonderful years with his loyal companion, Sammy Howard.

A private family service will be held to honor and celebrate John’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in John’s memory to the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine.