Richard Howland White

Richard Howland White, age 77, of Maynard, MA, formerly of Harvard and Sheffield, MA, passed away suddenly on June 19, 2024. He was the devoted and loving husband of Mara (Marianne) Delaney White. 

Rick was born in Red Bank, NJ on June 15, 1947, to the late Gilbert H and Elizabeth (Betty) Kirchner White. He was raised on a family farm and educated in Middletown, NJ, graduating from Christian Brothers Academy in 1965. Upon high school graduation, Rick continued his education at the University of Dayton, earning his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Philosophy. Rick and Mara married on July 20, 1969, the day the first man walked on the moon. The couple immediately moved to Cambridge, MA. As their family grew they moved to Harvard, MA and then Sheffield, MA, returning to this area and settling in Maynard in 1996.

Rick was recognized as a Master Finish Carpenter and had his own company, Howland Construction, for many years. Upon moving to Sheffield, MA, he joined a builders cooperative, Community Builders. He later worked with Jay Rhind Builders before returning to this area where he worked for Payne Bouchier Fine Builders of Boston before his retirement in 2017. Rick then remodeled the family home, designing and constructing a beautiful addition for he and his wife, doing all the major work himself. 

Rick was a loving and involved father, his children were his greatest joy. He was deeply committed to their education. Rick was a devoted and supportive husband to Mara. He was an avid reader and enjoyed intellectual pursuits and throughout his life acquired and retained a wealth of knowledge. His co-workers affectionately referred to him as “the professor”. He cherished spending time in nature and could easily identify any tree, plant or creature he came upon. He enjoyed fresh water fishing, gardening and caring for their animals, especially their dogs and horses. 

Rick is survived by his wife Mara and his four children and their families, Elspeth Paul and husband David Paul and grandchildren Delaney and Ainsley of Los Angeles, CA; Anna Howland White and husband Frederick D Stevens Jnr and grandchildren Kiana, Kai and Jadah of Otis, MA; Colin Timothy White and wife Laura E White and grandchildren Amelia and Genevieve of Maynard, MA; Maeve H White and partner Mark R Broadfield of Brooklyn, CT; sisters-in-law Ellie Delaney of Maynard, MA and Christine Delaney of North Haledon, NJ and her children Jessalyn and Evan Traino.

The family wishes to express deep gratitude to the Maynard EMT’s, fire and police departments as well as the Emerson Hospital Emergency room staff. 

Gifts in honor of Rick may be made to the non-profit Fishing Friends, 38 Griffin St. Springfield, MA 01104 and Maynard Firefighters Relief Association, 30 Sudbury St. Maynard, MA 01754. Services for Rick will be held privately.

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

-Wendell Berry