Eight Bells: Joseph Howey

Joseph Bramwell Howey, a Severna Park, MD resident for 38 years, died on July 30th at the age of 82 from complications related to renal failure.

Joe was born in Sunderland, England on May 3rd, 1932 to Joseph and Mary Bramwell Howey. His family relocated to the town of Hayes, Middlesex where he spent his youth. He then served in Paratroopers Division of the British Army.

In 1959 Joe immigrated to The United States and settled in New York City where he began his career in advertising. He was sworn in as a US citizen in 1967 and it was at this time that he met and fell in love with Andrea Bak Howey. They were married in 1967 in New Jersey and raised three children there.

Joe and his family moved to Severna Park in 1976 in order to establish the Annapolis offices of Sail Magazine. During his vibrant 32 year career at Sail, he pioneered the US sailboat advertising markets in China, Japan, Taiwan and Europe. He was an unmatched force in his field and received multiple accolades for his exceptional performance. His extensive work related travels gave him a deep appreciation of other cultures which resulted in many family vacations throughout Europe and North Africa. He was well known and liked within the sailing community here in Annapolis and beyond.

He retired in 2005 and enjoyed spending time with his family (and the family pets) at their home in Severna Park which he dearly loved. Joe also volunteered his time at Johns Hopkins University Hospital participating as a mentor to cancer patients and survivors. He had a brilliant and quick sense of humor, a distinguished charm and a boisterous exterior that would inevitably give way to reveal a deeply sentimental and loving nature.

He is survived by his wife Andrea Bak Howey, their three children Gregory Phillip Howey, Leslie Anne Frey and Jason Michael Howey and also by their three grandchildren Hayden Frey, Brandon Frey and Bramwell Howey.