Howard A. Sisson

Howard “Howie” Sisson, of Belmont, MA, passed away peacefully Sunday, March 19, 2023 at the age of 95.  He was a US Navy Veteran, WWII. 

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 66 years, Jean (Geary) Sisson, and their four children Maureen Rekrut (Michael), Michael Sisson (Mary Lisa), Paula McBride (John), and Mary Beth Pessia (Paul).  Howie was Grampa to his 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by his sisters Patricia Kane and Margaret “Marlee” Poirier and many nieces and nephews. 

A visitation will be held at the MacDonald, Rockwell and MacDonald Funeral Home on Thursday, March 23, from 10:30-11:30 followed by a funeral service at 11:30.  Internment will be at St. Patrick’s cemetery in Watertown. 

Howie was born in South Boston, MA on March 10, 1928 to parents Theresa and John “Jack” Sisson, one of six siblings.  He joined the Navy in 1946 when he was seventeen and served on the USS Diablo submarine until December 30, 1947.  After his return from the service, he met Jean Geary in South Boston while playing trumpet in a band.  He loved music, particularly jazz, and played the trumpet into his nineties.  He played in the American Legion Marching Band based in Waltham for many years. 

In 1958 he and Jean moved to Belmont, MA, where they raised their four children, and lived in the same house for 62 years.  Howie graduated from Wentworth Institute and worked as a master welder most of his life and could build and fix anything.  He was a lifelong learner who loved technical and math challenges.  While music was his passion, he also loved to garden and take care of his many house plants, and loved to read, particularly long fantasy series and science fiction.  He got his first desktop computer at 85, and was so good at it we all agreed he would have been a computer programmer had he been born later.  He advanced into tablets and Kindles, and never once had to ask anyone for help! 

While a very quiet man, a true introvert married to Jean the extrovert, he loved his family and especially visits from his grandchildren and, in the last few years, his many many great-grandchildren with whom he shared his love of ice cream.  We all have wonderful memories of his big smiles when they would visit. 

We will also miss him terribly but we are happy to know he is with his parents, and his siblings Bobby, Yvonne and Jackie. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The New England Conservatory of Music in his honor. Donations can be made at www.necmusic.edu or by check:

Please make your check payable to "New England Conservatory" and mail your contribution to:

Office of Advancement & Engagement
New England Conservatory
290 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115

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