Obituary: Melvin Howard, 87, Former Westport Resident

The following obituary of Melvin Howard, 87, is from Abraham L. Green & Son Funeral Home:

Melvin Howard, previously of Miami Beach, FL and Westport, CT, passed away on January 18, 2023 in Naples, FL.

Born in 1935 in Boston, MA to John and Molly (Sagar) Horvitz, he was raised in Fall River, MA by John and step-mother Rose Horvitz. A graduate of BMC Durfee High School, he went on to graduate with an honors degree in economics from UMass Amherst in 1957, and received his MBA from Columbia University in 1959. He also served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army. He then began his career as a financial executive at the Ford Motor Company, later working for the Shoe Corporation of America. Melvin joined Xerox Corporation in 1970, and served in various roles over 20 years, retiring as Vice Chairman of the Board at Xerox, and CEO and Chairman of Xerox Financial Services. He later held other business roles including CEO of Erlich Bober & Company, and Managing Director at Taurus Advisory Group. Melvin remained actively involved at UMass over the years, including serving as Chair of the Commonwealth Honors College Advisory Board for 18 years, and was awarded both the Chancellor’s Medal and the Distinguished Service Alumni Award.

Melvin was predeceased by his wife of 46 years, Beverly Ruth (Kahan) Howard, by his second wife, Vivien Weissman Howard, and by his sister Pauline Topol. He is survived by his daughter Marjorie (Douglas) Evans, his son Brian (Sarah) Howard, seven grandchildren: Danielle, Samuel, and Stephanie Evans, Benjamin, Maxwell, Joshua, and David Howard, and by his brother Rabbi Herbert (Judith) Horvitz. Melvin was much loved and will be greatly missed.

Graveside service will be private at Temple Israel Cemetery.