The Eastern Shore lost a dear friend this week. Howard “Howdy” Freedlander passed away recently after living the last few years at Baywoods retirement community in Annapolis. I got to know Howard in the early 2000s when he joined the Board of Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and immediately jumped into a leadership role on the Land Conservation Committee and later on the Development Committee.
As lead staff at ESLC for 30+ years the thing I loved about Howard was his constant attention to fundraising and the Board’s important role in giving and getting. He was always putting his hand up to volunteer for fundraising efforts, or cheerleading for fundraising success at board meetings, or making the extra gift when needed.
In my retirement, I came to know Howard from a very different context. My parents chose Baywoods retirement community in Annapolis on 2023, Howard and Liz’s location since leaving Easton, and Howard was superb in guiding my family through that transition. He helped us with the right questions to ask, negotiation techniques, preferable locations, meal suggestions, and just about everything. Howard and Liz chose Baywoods to be close to kids and grandkids – my parents did the same.
I have also gotten to know Howard through our mutual roles with the Spy.
Howard had incredible courage to write candidly about things like race, privilege, politics, religion, civics, climate change, bad behavior, and history. Howard also wrote often about grieving, the loss of loved ones, transitions, and honoring people on their passing. In these latter pieces, I think Howard was at his best – grappling with his own mortality and exploring the final transition with his readers.
In a recent Spy column Howard quoted Winnie the Pooh, and it sums up perfectly my feelings for Howard in this moment. “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
Goodbye Howard and Godspeed.
Rob Etgen retired in 2021 after a 40-year career in conservation – the last 31 years as President of Eastern Shore Land Conservancy. In retirement Rob is enjoying family and working on global and local sustainability issues with Council Fire consulting out of Annapolis.
Brian H. Childs says
Howdy was a dear man and I will always be grateful to have known him. My wife Ashley knew him better than and I and she too sends her love to Liz and the family. We all are better to have known him and Liz. Both of these wonderful people have been such a positive influence on the Talbot community and I will miss his Spy missives. Well done good and faithful servant. Well done.
Steve Clineburg says
What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful guy. Howard (Howdy) was indeed one of a kind and will be sorely missed.
Martha F Horner says
Yes, Rob, Winnie the Pooh said it just right. Howard was one of the very special people who will be missed by many.
Martha
Hugh Panero says
What a wonderful tribute to Howard, and yes it’s hard to say goodbye.
Kathleen M Linehan says
Howard is a real treasure to us in Talbot County and to all of us in Maryland.
Liz, our thoughts are with you. You have been such an important and dynamic couple in Talbot County.
Howard was an enthusiastic, bright, loving person who had so many interests, was so articulate and imbued with all of the values and sparkle that made him so special and certainly a role model.
With much love and admiration to a very special man, you are missed.
Buffy Linehan and Ed Gabriel
John B Pierson says
Rob- Beautifully written and we will miss my beloved brother in law each and every day. He came into our lives 50 years ago and we have been blessed. Thank you
Christine Trapnell says
Howdy and Liz moved to BayWoods shortly after my husband and I did. He and I shared a background in public service and a strong commitment to have a pristine parcel next door become a park recognizing the areas rich African American heritage
rather than a development of 43 townhouses.
Howdy was tireless in his efforts to make this happen. His personality and numerous contacts and skills were invaluable.
Fortunately, he was here to see Carrs_Elktonia Beach as the site of a joyous Juneteenth celebration.
Howdy’s positive and generous influence here at BayWoods and the city of Annapolis far outweighed his all too brief time here and will be greatly missed.