Deceased January 3, 2024
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In Memory
Howard Rotner passed away Jan. 3, 2024. He is survived by his three children, daughter-in-law, son-in-law and seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by Sandy, his devoted wife of 62 years.
At Amherst, Howie served as fraternity president (AD), played varsity basketball, and was active in sailing, skiing and many campus activities.
Howard attended Harvard Medical School, graduating in 1961, then becoming certified in internal medicine and endocrinology, and serving two years in an army hospital.
For more than 30 years, Howie practiced clinical medicine. He established several group clinic practices in Boston’s North Shore area. His optimistic, warm, can-do manner, combined with his clinical excellence, administrative skills and strong patient focus, endeared him to all and led to a variety of leadership and teaching roles.
Howie was a loyal Amherst alumnus, attending Reunions, making donations and enrolling his daughter Pam ’84, son Phil ’85 and grandson Ben ’18 in Amherst. In recent years, he became a key participant in an Amherst ’57 alumni group (with classmates Kif Knight, Phil Hastings, Dick Anderson, Steve Yale, Bruce Hanson, Stu Tuller, Pierce Gardner and Jim Vernon) that gathered each fall at Kif’s lake house in New Hampshire.
Among his personal activities, Howie was an avid reader, enjoyed sports (sailing, bike riding, golf and tennis), loved cooking, and had intellectual curiosity and broad interests. He was active in civic affairs and local charities.
Howie was a generous mentor to many. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was fun to be around.
Above all, Howie was the paterfamilias whose devotion to family and friends was exemplary.
We celebrate a life well lived.
Pierce Gardner ’57 and Jim Vernon ’57