Philip Jay Howard, Jr.

KENNEBUNK, ME - Philip Jay Howard Jr., age 91, resident of Kennebunk, ME, and formerly Princeton, MA, died peacefully at home on June 16, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Jay was married to his first wife Donna Lee Hoeltzel from 1957-1970. He was the devoted second husband to Joanne Louisa Kemp from 1973-2021 when she predeceased him. He will be greatly missed by his daughters Heather Meisterling of Jericho, VT, and Rebecca Howard of Newtown, CT, his sons Christopher Howard of Ettlingen, Germany, and Suz la Rousse, France, and Philip J. Howard III of South Windsor, CT, and Tetouan, Morrocco, and his stepson John Bennett of Leominster, MA. He had 14 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He leaves a sister Julia Nan Parker, of Altadena, CA, and Granville, VT, and brother Charles Howard of Loveland, CO.

Jay was the son of the late Dr. Philip Jay Howard of Northfield, MA, and Isabell Marshall Howard of Wallingford, VT. Born in Detroit, MI, Jay attended Highland Park High School where his early leadership led to becoming president of his class both junior and senior years. Jay attended Bowdoin College where he was a James Bowdoin Scholar, graduating in three years with a degree in Mathematics. He went on to attend the University of Michigan Medical School. While studying medicine, he devoted a year to performing research in the physiology department which led to the Borden Undergraduate Research Award for outstanding research on the transport of calcium in the mammalian kidney. This early focus on the kidney influenced his decision to specialize in urologic surgery. He completed his surgical internship at the University Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI in 1962 and his Urology surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital under the guidance of the late Dr. Wyland F. Leadbetter in 1966. e leav

Dr. Howard began private practice in 1967 with the late Drs. Joseph F. Sherer and Bancroft C. Wheeler in Worcester, MA where he continued to practice Urology for the next 42 years. He served as Chief of Urology service and on the Medical Board at Memorial Hospital. He was board certified by the American Board of Urology, became a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and was a member of the New England Urologic Society. Dr. Howard was proud to attract outstanding fellow urologists Dr. Tim Hopkins, Dr. Michael Wollin and Dr. Philip Ayvazian to join him in practice and carry on the tradition of providing excellent care to the community at Worcester Urological Associates. Dr. Howard also served many years as Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School until his retirement in 2005. During his career Dr. Howard published original scientific articles related to renal physiology and numerous clinical papers.

In 2014 Dr. Howard authored a book “Yankee Yooper on the Keweenaw” which detailed the history and geology of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and his experiences as a Locum Tenum urologist. When Jay was not pursuing his professional activities, he was always happiest with his dear wife Joanne on their small farm in Princeton where the activities over the years included raising a small herd of Hampshire sheep, gardening and improving the landscape. He and Joanne loved Kennebunk Beach, ME, where they maintained a summer home and a fishing boat. He studied seamanship and sat for the U.S. Coast Guard exam, obtaining a 100-ton Ocean Operator’s license. He loved to run chartered fishing trips and one of his favorite memories was serving for the Bush White House news pool and providing his yacht whenever President Bush came to Kennebunk for a summer visit. Jay also loved fishing for blue fish and striped bass. He caught tuna and sharks as well, but “nothing compares to a good fight with a blue fish”.

Dr. Howard was a devoted member of the Webhannet Golf Club of Kennebunk. He also greatly enjoyed his long membership at the Worcester Tatnuck Country Club, the camaraderie of the Argonauts club, the Yellow Ribbon clubs of Worcester and was an avid chess player.

Dr. Howard was a lifelong member of the Princeton Congregational Church. He served on the Diaconate and the Church Council and was instrumental in helping solve many of the church’s financial problems in his later years.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with his family from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Friday, August 14th, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden, MA. A Funeral Service will take place at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 15th, at the First Congregational Church of Princeton, 14 Mountain Rd., Princeton, MA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in honor of Philip Jay Howard Jr. may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association online at Alzheimer's Association .

To share a message or offer condolences, please visit his guestbook.