Howard P. Aronson died Jan. 12 after suffering a stroke at his home in Middletown. Although he had endured various medical indignities in recent years, he remained to the end a vigorous lover of life. Anyone who knew him had to love his vital energy. Few would be surprised to learn that he had planned a walk in the neighboring Huber Woods Park on the afternoon he was struck down.
Born in New York City in 1924, Howard enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and served in the Pacific theater aboard PT Boat 103. He was one of the first Americans in Nagasaki following the detonation of the atomic bomb and was deservedly proud of his service. Following his discharge, Howard attended the University of North Carolina where he wore the Tar Heels uniform as a member of the freshman basketball team and graduated in 1948. Soon thereafter he met Jacqueline Kean of Colorado Springs. They married in 1952, raised two children, Ann and Michael, and were inseparable until Jackie’s death in 2012.
Howard studied to become a CPA and worked for various firms before forming his own, Aronson and Thoma, in the mid 1970s. His devotion to exceptional client service helped him to develop a devoted following among Broadway stars, which may help to explain his flair for the dramatic. A merger helped fuel the accounting powerhouse Withum, Smith & Brown, where Howard closed out his career after 71 tax seasons, retiring Dec. 31, 2020. In the words of his close associate, Andrew Vitale, “He is a credit to our profession, and I have been proud to call him my partner and friend.”
Howard brought his thoughtfulness and analytic skill into many a board room, offering sage advice to a wide variety of nonprofits. He was a particular champion of mental health service, an avid supporter of the arts, and a fervid believer in the importance of open space conservation, serving for many years on the boards of CPC Behavioral Healthcare, Two River Theater, and Monmouth Conservation Foundation.
But Howard lived life well beyond the bounds of his professional activities. He and Jackie traveled extensively and cultivated lasting friendships wherever they went. He was a regular presence at the Navesink Country Club, both on the golf course and in the clubhouse, where he enjoyed a celebrity of his own making among the club’s glitterati. His quick wit, infectious laugh, and sartorial splendor made him special in any setting.
Howard is survived by his daughter Ann and son Michael, and he leaves a devoted following among friends and colleagues. He will be missed, and we are all richer for having been embraced within his circle.
The article originally appeared in the January 28 – February 3, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
