from notes of Eleanor Howitt Zimmerman, 1988: My mother was Lois Hall Howitt, and the wife of Dr. Richard Irvine Howitt, a physician. She was an accomplished musician and composer. She graduated from Helmuth Ladies College (with honors) of London, Canada. American girls were sent to Canada then, to be educated (1800's). She did two years of graduate study at the Conservatory of Cologne, Germany. This meant that she had to travel with much chaperoneage (wives of the Consular-Diplomatic Service). She also had to speak German, there. She spoke five languages fluently-- German, Spanish, French, Italian, and of course, English. My brother (Irvine) and I were never aware of her academic accomplishments. To us, she was just Mother or "Mamanny" as we called her. It was after her death in 1943, that we realized the extent of her published compositions. We have some of those. These were published before her marriage. As the wife of a correct Canadian Physician, she did nothing professionally, after her marriage, but was active in musical circles otherwise. Shortly before she died, here in Los Angeles, March 18th, 1943, aged 76, her last composition was produced by the chorus of the San Francisco Musical Club, at one of their programs. She was, of course, a longtime member there (30 years). (Z's note: this next is in regard to after the death of her father, 1910) We lived in a large four story home in 123-25th Ave in San Francisco, and a year or so at 234 also on 25th Ave, when the home was being sold. This was when I went thru grammer school and two years of high school, then we moved to an apartment in Berkeley (2327 Prince St.). By then, Irvine entered college (Davis campus, University of California). My mother was the oldest of six children, Lois, Edna, Gordon, Eleanor (who became Mrs. A. Stevens Halsted, of Pasadena) Miriam, and Wyllys (Uncle Bill) born in that order to the Rev. Dr. Wyllys Hall, and Eleanor Kellogg Hall. In 1891 my mother came with her family to Pasadena, as her mother, whom we called Mammagrande, was ill. Lois Hall Howitt was married at All Saints Episcopal Church, Pasadena, Oct. 20th, 1896. Her father, Rev. Dr. Wyllys Hall, conduced the service, and the brothers and sisters participated. Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Wyllys Hall, Dr. and Mrs. Richard Irvine Howitt are buried in the Mountain View Cemetary, Altadena, as are my aunts Edna and Miriam Hall, and my brother Irivne.

The Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles, California
20 Mar 1943, Sat • Page 15

Dr. Richard Irvine Howitt and Lois Hall Howitt, my paternal great grandparents, together forever.