It is with heavy hearts that we at OCH must report that our friend and colleague Llewellyn Howland III (Louie to all who knew him) passed over the bar earlier this week, a victim of the much feared “Big C.”
After a stint at Little, Brown & Co’s publishing house, his business became selling used books of the sea, generally out-of-print classics, and periodically listing them—with witty and thoughtful comment—in his much-anticipated-and-always-welcomed brochures.
In 2015 Louie’s marvelous book about yacht designer W. Starling Burgess came out entitled “No OrdinaryBeing,” a description that could also apply to the author himself. His knowledge of maritime history, especially yachting history, and particularly Massachusetts Bay yachting history (refined at Padanaram where he grew up and at Harvard where he was educated) was unmatched, and he freely and eagerly shared what he knew about boats and the men and women who designed, built, and owned them with anyone who showed an interest.
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Lawrence Smith says:
I purchased a copy of the Concordia Yawl 50th anniversary book from him when he was an “antiquarian bookseller”. Charming man. He and his ilk will be missed.
Mark Kellogg says:
Truly a treasure and a treasure trove of maritime wisdom. He is missed already.
David Tew says:
Llewellyn Howland his own self: https://www.offcenterharbor.com/2015/06/01/concordia-yawl-story-another-view-llewellyn-howland-iii/
Ron Breault says:
Back in early days of the Dolphin24.org website I spoke with Louie about Palmer Scott and Leo Talesmanick and their early days together building the Dolphin in New Bedford. In January he offered to help me with my ‘book project’ but also told me of his health concerns. Losing guys like Louie (Bill Shaw, Olin Stephens, etc) and their historical overviews were my reasons for starting the website in the beginning. Fair Winds Louie.
David Tew says:
And this morning Sam Manning passed away: http://www.glen-alden.com/illustrator.html
Jeff Pontiff says:
Maynard, thanks so much for this remembrance. I don’t know how I missed it. Living in New Bedford, with my office down the street from the Whaling Museum in a restored baleen warehouse, I had to the opportunity to be in Louie’s presence many times, usually at the Whaling Museum. He loved to talk, and it was all good stuff.
William English says:
Sorry for your loss and the loss to all of us who sail!
Donald Burnett says:
Well done Maynard.
Captain Keith Korporaal says:
Though I never met Mr. Holland personally; it was through his articles and books that I feel I can call him “Louie”. He will be missed.
Warren A. Wheaton says:
Very sad, indeed! To me he was Mr. Sailboat. I tried to read everything he wrote.
Hanson Robbins says:
Louie was a classmate and dear friend at Harvard. We saw each other at reunions and corresponded often about our mutual obsession – sailing. I will miss him.
Bill Mayher says:
Maynard, A wonderful tribute to Louie Howland who did so much to bring the world of great boats alive for us all.
Ben Mendlowitz says:
Well said Maynard. Louie was an inspiration and informal advisor to me throughout my career and I will dearly miss him, his wit, and wisdom.
David Tew says:
ACK!! So sad. I was just about to e-mail him to compliment him on his magisterial Burgess book and ask a few questions I think only he could answer.