Howard Andrew DePietri
8.28.79 – 9.2.17
He did not live a long life, but he did live a full life.
Howie was born in the Bronx, NY on August 28th 1979, and was the 3rd of 4 sons for his father (Howard Sr.), and the 1st of 2 sons for his mother (Sheila). He was voted “Class Clown” when he graduated from Rocky Point High School in 1997, but during his senior year he had also been training with the United States Marine Corps, enlisting shortly after graduation. Howie left home before his 18th birthday, with a one way ticket to Parris Island and plans of joining the infantry. After 4 years in the Marines, Howie was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant, and received a Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Howie was on to the next chapter of his life in Boston, and enrolled at Suffolk University to study International Government. Howie used this opportunity to travel the world, and attend school in Madrid, Mexico, Senegal and Budapest (to name a few). After graduating from Suffolk University, he traveled to Australia in pursuit of a Masters Degree in 2006, and found the time to train and complete a marathon. When he returned to the United States, he had a job at the State Department waiting, and he graduated from basic training in 2007. He worked out of the Washington DC and Manhattan offices, before moving overseas to live and work at the American Embassy in Baghdad Iraq. While in Baghdad, Howie fell in love with his soulmate Alejandra, and they were married in Cyprus in 2011. Howie’s next post was Tel Aviv, Israel, where he and Alejandra lived along the coast, continuing to travel every chance they got. They met a lot of life-long friends, and Howie was known to frequent his favorite cafés, restaurants and tailors in pursuit of the perfect chocolate croissant and custom shirt. Howie received an official commendation from the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, for helping a group of his friends and co-workers escape from the Golan Heights during a border skirmish. What the commendation failed to mention was that Howie had taken them all to the border of Lebanon and Syria in the first place to go wine tasting. After Tel Aviv, Howie and Alejandra moved to Islamabad Pakistan, where more friendships were formed, and Howie had the opportunity to try his hand as a furniture antiquary and tea party host.
Howie and Alejandra moved back to the United States in 2014 and took up residency in Naples, Florida. Not long after arriving in the USA, Howie had some medical complications, and was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. Howie and Alejandra committed themselves to treatment, and Howie was free of cancer in early 2015. The plan was to go back to work for the State Department out of the Miami Field Office, but not before parlaying his newfound health into a few quick trips to Argentina, Mexico and Italy. When he returned from abroad, a doctor’s visit revealed that the cancer had reemerged, and Howie would begin the fight again. Howie and Ale moved to Boston, for full time treatment at Mass General in October 2015, and the fight continued for 2 years. While in Boston, Howie spent much of his healthy time with his young nieces, relishing in teaching them to do impressions and making them laugh. During these last 2-3 years, the outpouring of love and support from all over the world made it clear to Howie, and his family, that he was tremendously loved and respected by everyone that met him. Until the very end, Howie was a fighter and would not lie down in the face of this disease. Howie’s last weeks were spent making sure that everyone was taken care of, and that he stayed strong for visitors who wanted to say goodbye. Howie passed away on September 2nd 2017, but he will always be remembered for his sense of humor, sharp wit, staunch opinions, and endless strength. On behalf of the entire DePietri Family, we would like to thank his amazing core of friends and colleagues that stood as close as Howie would let them, and gave him their unwavering support. A special thanks to the US Department of State and the Diplomatic Security Office for standing by Howie and his wife throughout this 3 year ordeal. Howie is not one to let cancer have the last laugh, and that’s probably why he agreed to donate his skin tissue to medical research. It will please you all to know that Howie was making jokes, singing and dancing in his bed until his final hours.
A great son, husband, brother, uncle and friend is now looking down on us all.