Bom-Wrapper

Howard Vreeland
Memorial Candle Tribute From
Thurston Rowe Funeral Home
"We are honored to provide this Book of Memories to the family."
View full message >>>
Memorial Candle Tribute From
The Paradis Family
"With our prayers and deepest sympathy,"
View full message >>>

Obituary for Howard W. Vreeland

Howard W.  Vreeland
Howard William Vreeland, 91, of Litchfield, CT, passed peacefully on Saturday, December 22, 2012 at Brandywine Assisted Living of Litchfield. Born on July 25, 1921 in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of the late William Cantwell Vreeland and Bessie (Weir) Vreeland and the beloved husband of Margaret (Von Braunsberg) Vreeland who predeceased him in 2000.

Howard spent his early years in Brooklyn, graduated from Brooklyn Tech H.S. then briefly attended Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute prior to enlisting in the United States Navy during World War II where he served on the USS Paducha and was later selected to attend Columbia University School of Engineering through the Navy's V12 Program. He was also an amateur boxer, boxing throughout his high school and college years and competed in the championship match of the Golden Gloves Tournament

After receiving his B.S. from Columbia and his discharge from the Navy in 1946, he married his childhood sweetheart, Margaret, and began his 40 year teaching career at Columbia University School of Engineering where he earned the titles Professor, Associate Dean of the School of Engineering and at retirement, Professor Emeritus. He received his Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1949. At that time he was part of a team at Columbia that developed techniques that greatly increased the effectiveness of radiation treatment through the use of radium implants for cancer patients.

Howard also served for many years as the Director of Camp Columbia, Morris, CT, a summer program for Columbia engineering students and summer preseason training camp for Columbia's football team.

After retiring from Columbia and moving to Litchfield, he was active in serving the needs of the blind community through his research and development of computer raised line drawings for which he received recognition in 2000 from Board of Education and Services for the Blind and the Governor of the State of Connecticut. During this time, he could also be found working on one of his many hobbies including photography, woodworking, gardening and computer programming.

Howard leaves behind a loving family, his son William Howard Vreeland, his daughter Barbara Diane Burns, her husband Leonard and their children Amanda and Ryan who will forever have warm memories of their "Pop".

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2012 at 2 p.m. at Brandywine Assisted Living of Litchfield, 19 Constitution Way, Litchfield,CT 06759

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Board of Education and Services for the Blind, DORS/BESBE , Zagorian Trust, 184 Windsor Ave.,Windsor, CT 06095 or VNS of CT, 65 Commercial Blvd. Torrington, CT 06790

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Howard W. Vreeland, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Order Flowers

Recently Shared Condolences

Recently Shared Stories

Recently Shared Photos

Share by: