Louis Howland

Louis Safford Howland III, 76, of New Orleans, Louisiana, died peacefully, on November 12, 2025. Lou was born on September 15, 1949, to Lou and Louise Howland in Cambridge, MA. His early years were spent in Wyckoff, N.J., with joyful summers on Damariscotta Lake in Nobleboro, Maine. He returned home to Arlington, MA., to attend Boston University, where he was a history major with a lifelong respect and interest in anything related to WWII. He landed in California for a few years, before finding his forever home in New Orleans. He was lured by the music, the food, the joy of Mardi Gras, and, of course, the weather. Shoveling snow became a distant memory.

In the spring of 1990, he and Mary Kay MacKenna, were blessed to find each other. They were married on 10/20/1990, and never a day went by without a smile or a laugh. Always a gentle soul, his unspoken mission, was to make everyone he knew or met, smile. Often done with a wry joke, obscure reference, or a bit of trivia, this made him perfectly suited to his true calling, and also, his most appropriate nickname, Captain Lou. After starting out as an engineer, he set his sights on becoming a Captain, which he achieved in time for the New Orleans 1984 World’s Fair. His cruises up and down the Mississippi River, on the riverboat Cotton Blossom, were filled with stories, local history, clever comments and the occasional joke, both to entertain himself and the passengers. Other nicknames bestowed on him by good friends, were LuckyLouboy, Louboy, Louie, the Mayor, doggie Daddy, and of course, LOML.

He is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Mary Kay, and their faithful dog, Tasha Toupé, his beloved family, Mark and Holly Howland, Nancy and Gene Ferola, Phil and Jen Howland, and David and Mercedes Howland. Also, his dearest nieces, nephews, and in-laws, whom he never failed to call on their birthdays, so that we could torture them with our off key singing. He is also survived by many, many good friends, all of whose lives he touched. And last, but not least, he loved animals. Especially our dogs throughout the years. Maggie, our bridesmaid, Bones, Allie, Tasha, Cody, Patch, and GiGi.