Lake Forest Obituary: Joseph Patrick Howard, 90

Joseph Patrick Howard: A life of excellence, punctuated by laughter, love and kindness

December 7, 1930 – May 11, 2021

Joseph Patrick Howard, 90, was an award-winning NBC News writer/producer for more than 25 years, known for producing Chicago’s daily NBC News Report plus numerous documentaries and stories for The Today Show, Huntley-Brinkley and NBC Nightly News. He covered a multitude of significant news events, including the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and produced a live three-hour news special on his life. While assigned to cover Sen. Robert Kennedy’s campaign in Los Angeles during the 1968 presidential primaries, the network tapped Howard as field producer-writer for NBC’s national coverage of the assassination of Senator Kennedy.

Carol Marin, former WMAQ anchor and award-winning political reporter, said: “Joe Howard could have come out of Ben Hecht’s The Front Page. He was a newsman, smart, funny, tough. He knew the politicians, the cops, and respected working people. Skeptical, yes, cynical no. And careful always, always with the words he wrote that told a story straight. But with heart.”

A pioneer in the early days of television news and a walking encyclopedia on Chicago and state politics, Howard was a patient mentor to many coming up in the business. Financial reporter and author Terry Savage said, “I worked with Joe during the start of my career at WMAQ Channel 5. I knew a lot about money but not a lot about video technology. Joe was always so sweet and helpful, a true master of his craft. He will always be remembered as one of the most caring people, and a true professional.”

WMAQ reporter Art Norman shared, “Joe was that text-book cigar-chomping Irish tough guy, who produced for Len O'Connor and Floyd Kalber. His reputation was that of a no-nonsense writer/producer. But Joe could be very funny and so kind to many of my visiting African-American college students. Joe Howard embraced diversity, and he helped me welcome large groups of Black journalists to the newsroom when I was the local President of the National Association of Black Journalists. He talked about the early days of covering and interviewing Dr. King.”

Former WMAQ producer Barry Hohlfelder called Howard “A pillar of the NBC5 Newsroom. Truly a mentor in the Chicago School of Journalism. Joe is one of the reasons the Golden Age of Chicago Television was indeed golden.”

Howard produced more than 25 television news documentaries while at NBC, and his work was honored with six Emmy Awards. These included Richard J. Daley: The Trees He Planted, an obituary on the legendary Chicago Mayor, and City Hall, Here I Come, an examination of Jane Byrne’s campaign to become the city’s first woman mayor. Joe also traveled to Rome numerous times to produce coverage relating to Chicago’s archdiocese, including the elevation of two Chicago archbishops (John Cody and Joseph Bernardin) to the Sacred College of Cardinals.

“I always admired Joe for being well organized. The ultimate result was that Joe “tamed” Len O’Connor, who was a consummate reporter but totally disorganized and unfocused. By working with him so many times, Joe’s organizational skills managed to rub off on Len as he got older," said former WMAQ producer George Baum.

Former WMAQ political reporter and close friend Peter Nolan said, "What I remember most about Joe was his salty sense of humor, which sometimes came in the heat of a busy news day. One day, when he was producing the five o'clock news, he came over to my desk with a letter from a viewer. He was absolutely delighted to announce to everyone in earshot, 'this is addressed to Peter Fathead Nolan.' Joe couldn't stop laughing. To this day some of my sons still like to call me Fathead.”

John Martin, a 10-time Emmy award winning editor at WMAQ, said “Joe found the right balance between the news business and his personal relationships. He had a heart, and he let it show. Joe was always honest with what he was thinking and how he felt about things. Humanity in the news business is important. While Joe was an award-winning writer/producer, I feel quite certain he would say he was most proud of his family.”

After leaving NBC in 1990, Howard pursued several creative ventures including documentaries, books and other projects. In 1997, he authored Chicago O’Hare International Airport: World’s Busiest, World’s Best, which chronicled the history of O’Hare and its inner workings.

Howard won a prestigious Philo award from the International Television Association for producing a public service video called Takin’ Back Bucktown, a film that served as part of a state anti-drug program. He also produced an educational video for the State of Illinois called Have All Voted Who Wish? a film that explains how the Illinois State Legislature enacts laws. Howard’s video was distributed to public libraries, state schools and universities throughout Illinois.

Joe Howard particularly enjoyed his role as an editor/reporter for Chicagoland golf magazine On the Tee, where he proudly landed an interview with golfing great Greg Norman for the magazine’s inaugural issue.

Born and raised in Chicago, Howard graduated from St. Philip Neri School, St. Bede Academy, and Quincy College (BA 1952 Speech and Journalism), where he was a reporter for the Quincy Herald Whig.

Howard joined the U.S. Navy in 1952 and during the Korean War served on a destroyer as a fire control technician in the South Pacific theater. Following military service, Howard worked for two commercial film studios, and while at Wilding Inc. he met his future wife, Dolores (Dee) Zeigle, a talent agent. Alfred Hitchcock’s movie North by Northwest was being filmed in Chicago, and Dee got them both roles as extras in the Union Station scene, during which Hitchcock called out Joe for overacting on his way down an escalator.

Joe Howard was a deeply devoted husband and father. Joe and Dee married in 1958, and they had four children: Lisa, Joseph, Jennifer and Colleen. They lived in Wilmette for most of their 41-year marriage. In 1999, Dolores died suddenly from a pulmonary embolism. Howard met his second wife, Bernice (Bunny) Gallagher, at an Irish-American Heritage Center event, and they married in 2004. Their mutual love of travel took them to many European destinations, most often to the Connemara region of Ireland, and they regularly escaped Chicago winters in Solana Beach, CA. Gallagher’s three sons Stephen, William, and John Vignocchi, along with their children, all adored their “Papa Joe.”

Joe loved music of all kinds, had a gorgeous tenor voice, and performed in a barbershop quartet for more than 20 years. He also enjoyed playing the guitar and had a great appreciation for jazz as well as the American standards. Frank Sinatra, The Four Freshmen, Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan and Hoagy Carmichael were among his favorites. He loved to play golf with his friends, taught his children to play and enjoyed bragging about the hole-in-one he made while on a 1984 Wisconsin vacation.

Howard is survived by his devoted wife, Bernice Elizabeth Gallagher; children, Lisa, Joseph (Susan Valentine), Jennifer Bullington (Mike) and Colleen Quenan (Tim); Bernice’s children, Stephen Vignocchi (Nancy), William Vignocchi (Lisa Kinsella), John Vignocchi (Collette); and 15 grandchildren. Howard was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 41 years, Dolores Zeigle; sisters Jean Bosworth and Thea Howard; and parents June Fitzgerald and Theodore M. Howard. Info: Wenban Funeral Home (847) 234-0022 or www.wenbanfh.com