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PrintCommunity bids Howie Ehret a fond farewell
CMDR. RICHARD ‘RUSTY’ SMITH, Ehret’s fellow Naval officer and longtime friend, was one of many speakers Saturday.
Bill Lynch/Index-Tribune
Relatives, childhood friends and fellow Naval officers came to the Sonoma Community Center from all over the country Saturday to join the community of Sonoma in memory of Capt. Howard Ehret, USN (retired), the highly energetic community leader, volunteer and Rotarian known to most Sonomans as “Howie,” who passed away last month.
Alongside Irene, his wife of 44 years, and his son, Steve, they filled Andrews Hall to standing-room-only and then into two additional rooms, where the services could be watched via closed circuit TV. For more than two hours, speaker after speaker told about the qualities and virtues of this dedicated family man, Naval officer and community leader.
Relatives described his “prankish sense of humor,” as well as his determination to keep family traditions alive by planning, organizing and directing gatherings to assure everyone’s enjoyment.
His cousin, Scott Setrakian, said that even as a child “… Howie became the ‘leader of the cousins,’ organizing their activities at family gatherings to make sure everyone had fun.”
In all of these tales, his prowess with a Weber barbecue was prominently highlighted.
Kathy Swett, executive director of the community center, referred to him as “Captain of the Ox Roast and Fourth of July,” and recalled how much he cared about the success of not only those events, but of the center itself. “He cared so much, he made others care … I’m so grateful I knew him.”
Master of ceremonies Tim Boeve called Ehret a “special community sparkplug … with boundless energy, organizational savvy and a constant presence behind the scenes … making a plan and executing it…a man of selfless service and unfailing dedication.”
Sonoma City Council members Ken Brown and Tom Rouse honored him, and Mayor Joanne Saunders read a proclamation declaring Saturday to be “Howie Ehret Day” in Sonoma.
Many speakers spoke of Ehret’s “genius for planning and organizing.” His friend and fellow Naval officer, Cmdr. Richard “Rusty” Smith, called him a “Navy warrior,” whose career was dedicated to the Navy’s mission of conducting prompt and sustained combat at sea.
“Howie also was a genius at making us feel individually important, what things were the right things to do. We always knew that Howie had our back,” Cmdr. Smith added.
Following a summary of Ehret’s service in Sonoma by fellow Rotarian Bill Shea, and the eulogy by Boeve, songs by Sheila Whitney and more commentary on Ehret’s life, there was an Ox Roast-style barbecue, prepared by the Ox Roast team of community center volunteers, beside whom Ehret had worked for so many years.
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Reader Comments:
Our friend and brother in arms has passed the final bar and we wish him fair seas and a following wind!
Capt. Bob Piazza, USN (Ret)
Saddly Capt. Ehret is gone but I am happy that I was able to attend the service in my hometown with everyone that knew him. He will forever be missed by everyone, as well as my family. I extend my condolences to his family. I forever will be grateful that I met and knew him as an adolecent as well as an adult.
GM2(EXW) Nicholas M Sutter
"If what you are doing is not directly or indirectly supporting prompt and sustained combat operations at sea, STOP IT!" Lt Howie Ehret, cica 1973.
Howie was both a great leader and a great manager, a rare combination. He always got the most out of the crew, and effectively and efficiently organized courses of action in a straight forward and understandable manner. You knew where he stood and you were always rewarded for supporting his efforts toward a better way forward.
"My best strength is that I am capable of simple solutions. I never had the guts to openly admit that I am incapable of complex solutions." Capt Howie Ehret, circa 1984.
Howie had a great sense of humor and a great sense of humanity, coupled with boundless energy. He seems to have had a mission to leave everything he touched better than he found it, and he did. I am so blessed to have worked with him over many years and shared many a brew and many a planning session with him.
"It's not what you know, but what you do with what you know." CDR Howie Ehret, circa 1982.
LCDR Tom Evans USN(ret)
Howie was a great teacher, a forward-thinker, fun to work for and with, and above all, a good man. Fair winds and following seas, shipmate.
CDR Stan Allsopp USN (Retired)
I regret not being able to honor the passing of my old shipmate, Howie.
We crossed paths many times in our careers and worked side by side in the Mobile Systems Division at Naval Security Group HQ in Washington, DC in the mid 70s.
Howie was an absolutely dedicated professional in every task he undertook. He made us all work a little harder to try to keep up.
We've lost a good friend.
CAPT John Wallace USN (Retired)
I still have napkins capturing wisdom and direction from Howie, when he was at N86 CINCLANTFLT and I was tasked with introducing, developing concepts of employment, and CONOPS for OUTBOARD as a ships combat system element. We never disagreed. He was inspirational and a driver of fleet cryptologic operations.
R.G. (Dick) Crothers
CTRCS, USN (ret.)
"Someday you'll be someone's memory. Make sure it is a good one."
Howie, Bob Brodersen and I served together on the USS BLUEBACK SS581 in the 60's. The "Fat Twins" as he called Brody and I, were Howie's nemesis during the 8 months we spent together in that good ship. We constantly found ways to mess with his head and as a good full fleet Lieutenant he tried constantly to get ahead of his rotund chiefs in ECM. Through those two patrols and an extended stay in Yokosuka between patrols, he good naturedly put up with our tom foolery and numerous attempts to rig him. Those patrols formed a very strong friendship among us which was further tightened by his tour in CNSG, where I, then a DON civilian in the subshop, and Brody as hotshot NIC analyst and Captain Howie once more resumed our messing with each others heads. Finally, I once more had occasion to meet with Howie at Skaggs Island where he welcomed me for a security inspection. I noticed however that as long as I was there.....he kept looking over his shoulder to make sure I wasn't pulling some form of trick on him. I can believe all the accolades that have been written about the man as a community leader. He was a prince among men about whom I shall always tell my grandkids. I hope when he gets to heaven, St. Peter tells him that it was the CO USS BLUEBACK that put Brody and I up to rigging a box that looked like a box of 2 inch tapes with 140lbs of garbage weights and having one of the crew drop it over the side in Yokosuka harbor. God Bless you Howie, fair winds and following seas. Roy Hill CTTCS(SS) USN Ret.
Peggy and I were station at Kamiseya when Howie
and Irene were there. Howie trained me to be
an OWO and it was quite an experience. Having
served almost 3 years onboard the USS Ranger
(CVA-61), the NSG was all new to me. It was great
to work with Howie--a very remarkable intellect,
great sense of humor, and a friend I will always
remember. Our paths crossed a few times later
in our careers. Peggy and I visited Howie and
Irene in Sonoma. I wish I could have been in
Sonoma for the fine tribute that was paid to
this very dedicated and exceptional Naval Officer,
and loving husband and father. Howie will be sorely
missed by his family and his many. many friends.
John A. Moore,CAPT., USN (Ret.)
ASHORE
For Howie
Sailor, rest your oar,
The race is run - a westering sun
Makes shadows of the yardarm's run;
Until the seaman's day is done
When cannons speak no more -
And peace replaces war.
Your comrade,
CAPT Steve Myers, USN (ret.)
Stay technical, no matter how far you go! Good advise given me by Howie when I was a lowly Ens at Skaggs in 87. It served me well throughout my career. With a green pen and a napkin there was never a problem too difficult to solve or item that could not be explained. Howie is without a doubt on top of the list of great American Patriots. We send our deepest condolences to Irene and Steve.
CDR Jim Guest USN(ret)