Howard Martin Kilguss
Howard Martin Kilguss of Rehoboth passed away suddenly on June 11, 2023, surrounded by family, on a beautiful day in Reading, Vermont.
He leaves behind Kate; his beloved wife and best friend of nearly 53 years as well as daughter Sara Kilguss and her husband Ed Reposa, daughter Jessie Kilguss, daughter Maggie Hauptman, her husband Tyler Hauptman and their son Cooper.
He also leaves behind his brother Fred Kilguss and his husband Ray, Fred’s sons Mark and Karl Kilguss and their families, sister Anne Kilguss, sister Linda (Kilguss) Foley, her husband Tom Foley and their daughter Kara Foley; sister-in-law M. Elizabeth Maclean and her husband Peter and their daughters Kate and Fiona; brother-in-law Dana Jones and his son Keith and daughter Anna.
Howard also leaves behind many close friends.
He is predeceased by his parents Fred Kilguss and Anna (Stamp) Kilguss.
He was a devoted husband and father who loved traveling and spending time at his home of 40+ years in Rehoboth, MA where he and Kate raised their family as well as many horses, dogs, sheep, cats and chickens.
He also loved spending time at their home in Reading, Vermont where he and Kate have spent the predominance of the last few years.
Howard was an avid rower. He was a member of Boston University’s varsity crew team from 1963-1967 and earned a silver medal in the U.S. National Championships. His love of rowing continued through his last days when he was looking forward to getting back out on the water at the Narragansett Boat Club.
In addition to rowing, he was an avid skier and fly fisherman and a member of the Megantic Fish and Game Club in Maine and Laurel Brook fishing club in Uxbridge, MA.
Howard was President of Excell Manufacturing Company in Providence, RI for almost 30 years. He joined his father there in the early ‘70’s, helping to develop the business and succeeded as President, growing the company and moving it to Royal Little Drive. Not long after the millennium he sold the company to a British manufacturing company due to global manufacturing challenges and stayed on through the transition when he decided to look for new opportunities.
He served on the board of Grow Smart RI, Save the Bay, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council and the Rehoboth Land Trust as well as the Governance Studies Board for the Brookings Institution and was a New England Advisory Council member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
He had a deep love of dogs and leaves behind canine family members: Pippa, Elsie, Hazel, Detective Inspector Clue, and Minnie Mugu.
He had a fantastic sense of humor and was one of the kindest most patient and generous humans this world has or will ever know.
There will be a celebration of his life in Providence later this year; details to follow soon.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his name to Grow Smart RI, Boston University Crew, Save the Bay or the charity that best embodies his spirit in your mind.
