My friend, Howard Platt, died in a hospital in Prince Rupert about midnight on Monday.
A number of you know him through his comments on this blog. But you know him best for the bird photographs he would submit and his encyclopedic knowledge of those fascinating feathered creatures.
Howard is one of the reasons I moved to Melaque. He was a frequent contributor to the local message board, always willing to share his best birding spots in the area.
As luck would have it, he moved to Manzanillo while I was moving to Melaque. For the years I have been here, we tried to set up times to go birding. But circumstances would always get in the way.
But I would see him at various art functions, fundraisers, or in Walmart. He was always ready to share his very English wit and his take on things local or international.
I learned quickly that he is the type of man for which the term "gentleman" was coined. He was always respectful of his wife, Ewa, and treated everyone with the type of civility that is not often seen in public.
Just before he went north to Canada this year, he was diagnosed with brain cancer. The treatments in Colima were going quite well. But he contracted a cold in British Columbia that quickly led to his death.
Howard and Ewa celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in that hospital room, in Ewa's words -- "an ocean view room with bald eagles flying by, ravens being buzzed by crows, and swallows hunting for bugs." Howard loved his birds, but he loved Ewa even more.
While Howard was on the road, we arranged to set up our long-delayed birding trip. Both of us knew that it might never occur. But he was both an optimist and a realist. Two traits for I came to respect in him.
I will miss that birding trip, Howard. And I will miss you. But I will never miss the part of you that has changed me for the better.
20 comments:
Nice post, señor Cotton.
Although I had never met him, reading his posts and enjoying his always excellent photographs over the years, confirms for me, he was a fine gentleman. Your's was a very nice tribute to your friend.
Sincerely,
Francisco
Oh I'm so sorry Steve. ::hugs:: to you. I send you peaceful thoughts. You are lucky you had such a dear friend as Howard and the memories will always be with you. Take care, thoughts are with you.
Sad to lose an dear acquaintance, especially one who shares a fondness with you for so many interest. Nice tribute to him.
Steve, I am truly sorry to read of the passing of your friend. It is a door we all must pass thru at our appointed time. May our lives reflect such good thoughts, as you have expressed of him.
Very nice tribute to your friend, Steve. What a fine photo too.
Their name is so familiar to me, did they not have a connection up here too? Did they live here once? Maybe it's just from your blog.
Descanse en paz, Howard.
Thank you, Felipe. Howard is one of those men who lived his lives in a manner that a Caesar disclaimer never needs to be given.
Fine gentleman. Indeed, he was.
I thought about memories as I wrote about Howard. There are things I now do in my life that are a direct result of knowing him. And many of those things I will do forever.
Thanks, Tancho. While I was out watching the birds in our cleared area this morning, I ciould not resist saying: "Howard, this bird's for you."
Dad once told me that the good life is to lead your life as if your were living your obituary.
I am not certain. I knew them only through Melaque and Manzanillo. But Ewa was very asctive in Rotary. Maybe there is a connection there.
You were very fortunate to have such a fine man as a friend, as was he, in having a friend to write such a wonderful tribute. Very nice.
And what a nice surprise to see you, my old friend. I am painfully aware that I owe you an email. It will be on the way soon.
Wow! He was my brother so I loved him dearly but then again, I was probably biased! I find it very moving to read all the comments that have been made by people who knew him. Thank you.
It was, of course, my pleasure to write the post. But I had a greatyer pleasure in being able to share a bit of his life. Thank you.
He was my Uncle, we didn't meet too many times in our lives but I have precious memories of the times we did. I have heard so many stories from my Mum and Grandparents (when they were alive) about him. He had a huge influence on my life but never knew it. I loved him very much. As with my Mum, Jo, I find it very moving to hear the tributes to him. It would have been lovely to have spent more time with him but Mum and I understand the distances and difficulties that life presents. Rest in Peace Uncle Howard. xxxxx
And I felt the same. I wish I had had more moments.
Classic Howard of the 1990s
I worked for Dr. Platt in the BC Ministry of Health in Victoria for nearly 6 years starting in 1995. He was then director of a new branch responsible for developing clinical practice guidelines. This involved many long, tense meetings with physician experts reviewing complex scientific research and the appropriateness of medical interventions. I was a health services analyst and writer and general dogsbody for the branch and I often accompanied Howard to Vancouver for these challenging and exhausting meetings.
One day we took the float plane over for another day-long session. The plane was a little late and when we got off in downtown Vancouver we needed a taxi right away to avoid keeping our highly-paid experts waiting. A line-up of 20 people formed immediately to await the arrival of the taxis that had been called to meet our plane. Howard was so focussed on the upcoming meeting that he walked right by the entire line-up. I had no choice but to follow him. As we approached the front of the line, every eye upon us, a single taxi pulled up and before anyone else had a chance to think or say anything, Howard and I were in the taxi and speeding off to our meeting. We left 20 stunned people blinking in the morning sunshine with not another taxi in sight. To this day I couldn’t swear Howard was even aware there was a line-up.
Howard was one of the toughest men I met in government. He was straightforward, outspoken and he got things done that others said could not be accomplished. His determination placed the BC Ministry of Health Guidelines Program on a firm footing at a time when it might have floundered. Medical diagnostics, therapeutics and chronic disease management in BC have all benefited from his commitment.
I always knew there was a “pussycat” Howard and I got a few glimpses of that: he came to my wedding and before he retired himself he came to my own early-retirement event. I think he wanted to show more of his soft side in the office but the Howard I knew was the “health warrior.” He was not an easy man to work for but his energy and sincerity were clear to all who met him, and it was a valuable experience for me.
As I look over the other tributes to Howard I am sorry I didn’t get to know him better in the Mexico years.
Thanks for the tale of the "other" Howard. It is nice tio know the whole man.
I got to see his tougher side a couple of times when we would discuss health care. I now know where those views came from.
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