Howard and I met over thirty years ago at a Dog Show. Howard had beautiful Old English Sheep Dogs that he made many champions and had many wins at the Dog Shows. I had Samoyeds and was just getting started out in the dog show game. Howard’s good friend George Heitzman, who was the best handler in the South had to show Howard’s dogs for a time due to a shoulder injury that Howard had. Howard’s dog, Bill Bailey was George’s number one dog. I also wanted George to show my Samoyed. When he won the breed with both dogs, Howards’s dog always went in the Working Group with George and not my Samoyed. At the time I didn’t understand the close relationship of the two men. Later I did as Howard and I became close friends. We had many good times at the shows with Big Rick, Little Rick, Jack Feinberg, Bert and Lonnie Gordon, Leslie Johnson, Jack Knox and so many others. We would cook out at night from our motor homes and celebrate our wins or wonder how the judges could possible put up a dog over ours. I think it was one of Howard’s most fun times. It certainly was one of mine having a friend as understanding as Howard. As the years went on Howard married Sharon who was a God send to Howard. And I married Bill. As Howard would travel from Davie to Gainesville to see his son Jeff and daughter-in-law Donna, he would take a break from his journey and spend the night at my house. We would go to a great French or Chinese restaurant. We visited him in Davie too and he always took us to the best restaurant in his area.
In his professional life he was the best dentist of all. I have a friend who still talks about what a wonderful job he did on her teeth and never hurt her.
To his children you couldn’t have had a more caring father. He always talked about all of you and what was going on in your lives. He loved you very much.
To Sharon, no man could have a better wife. I know Howard would not have lived as long as he did with his illness without you. Know that you were loved by the best until the end.
I will miss and remember him always.
Diane Chenault-Parke