Amber Lynne Wallace Howell

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1967, the oldest child of the late Robert Raymond Wallace and Jacqueline Louise Wallace, Amber graduated Grant County High School in Dry Ridge, Kentucky, and earned her B.A. in Art from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.

Amber had a life-long passion for the arts which led her to complete a Master’s degree in Fine Arts Administration at the University of New Orleans, and then to her first professional job at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. She studied glass blowing, oil painting, and print making before realizing her talents as an organizer and administrator.

After the birth of Ariel, her only child, Amber transitioned away from the erratic work hours of the art world to a position as the Executive Director of the New Orleans Academy of Ophthalmology, which she held for 20 years. In addition to her work leading the NOAO, she also provided administrative and accounting support to the Youth Empowerment Project and the Capital Appeals Project. She returned to the art world in the final chapter of her career to serve as the Executive Director of the New Orleans Chapter of the American Institute for Architecture.

Amber’s talent for organizing and event planning spread far beyond her career in the nonprofit sector to her extensive volunteer work. Among her many contributions to the community were her service as a PTO member at Audubon Charter School during the reopening of the school after Hurricane Katrina, and as a board member for École Bilingue. Many at EB will remember Amber as a fixture at the moules frites stand at the annual Fête Française. Amber’s love for Pearl and all her dogs, led her to volunteer with Take Paws Animal Rescue, helping to organize their Big Bark Gala, her last volunteer endeavor.

Her devotion to serving her community was rivaled only by her devotion to her family. She was faithfully married for 26 years to David Mason Howell, and remained part of the Howell family long after their divorce, attending Howell family Thanksgivings, weddings, and other family events as a welcome and beloved guest. She earned her reputation as the “fun” mom, god-mother, aunt, and sister across her family. A true bonne-vivante, Amber loved gatherings with her family and her devoted circle of friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Jacqueline Ariel Howell; her brother, Jason Wallace, and his wife, Tami Wallace; her niece Olivia Wallace; her ex-husband David Howell; her devoted partner Sebastian Pastor; and a close circle of chosen family.

A private celebration of Amber’s life will be held at a later date.