Howard Pratt of Ponte Vedra Beach passed peacefully in his sleep on September 8, 2023, just shy of his 97th birthday. Howard was born in The Bronx, New York to Ernest and Marian (Bessell) Pratt. He graduated from James Monroe High School where he was an outstanding swimmer, and once swam an exhibition race against the great Johnny Weissmuller. He continued his education at Valley Forge Military Junior College before enlisting in the Army Air Corps. While serving in Europe he was stricken with rheumatic fever and shipped back to a hospital and rehabilitation center in Florida to recuperate. He always recalled the stacks of coffins outside the main building there and spoke of how hard the voyage home was for the badly wounded veterans. After his discharge, he lived in Mount Vernon New York and while visiting a bank with his mother she pointed to a teller, noted how attractive she was, and suggested Howard speak to her. He and the teller, Sara Ann Bates, were married for 72 years before her passing in 2021. The couple lived in Springfield Mass returning to Mount Vernon prior to the birth of their oldest son, Bruce, then to Winsted, CT, where son, Kenneth, was born, and Collinsville where son, Brad, was born.
Howard owned and operated The Maple Avenue Supermarket in Collinsville, CT, then worked for Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance in Hartford. The family moved to Wilton, CT, where Howard began a long career in the food industry, retiring as a Vice-President with Beechnut. In Wilton, where they lived for 34 years, Sara began a successful career in Real Estate. Howard enjoyed playing golf with friends and family and he and Sara were thirty-four-year members of Silver Spring Country Club Ridgefield, CT, and, since moving to Florida in 1996, The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach, where they had many dear friends.
He and Sara enjoyed traveling and experiencing different cultures. Travel brought them to Europe, Asia, Canada, South America, the Caribbean, and to all fifty U.S. states. Two of their favorite trips were when they took twenty family members to Ireland and Scotland and a few years later to Italy. They loved the beach and enjoyed summer trips with family to Charlestown Beach in Rhode Island, Block Island and Nantucket Island.
Howard was a skilled, self-taught chef, who enjoyed experimenting with new recipes. He and Sara enjoyed hosting theme parties for friends and family. During one such Halloween party a friend rode a horse into their house. A story he loved to tell.
Howard was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and cherished friend to many. He is survived by his brother, Kenneth, and wife, Eleanor, of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, sons, Bruce and his wife, Janet, of Swanville Maine, Ken and his wife, Linda, of Johns Creek Georgia, and Brad and his wife, Dawn, of Fairfield, Connecticut, grandsons, Benjamin and wife, Logan, of Swanville Maine, Matthew and wife, Laura, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Zachary and wife, Heather, of Slingerlands, New York, Andrew and wife, Karianna, of Oradell, New Jersey. He was blessed with three granddaughters, Katherine and husband, Jay, of Darien, CT, Jessica of Atlanta, and Elizabeth of New York City, nieces, Mimi and Denise, and eight great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Sara, and nephew, Michael. He left an everlasting legacy of love and memories and will be missed by all who knew him.
A celebration of Howard’s life will be held at a future date. The family encourages those wishing to make donations in Howard’s memory, to consider Haven Hospice 4200 NW 90th Boulevard, Gainesville, FL 32606.
