W. Howell Pugh

W. Howell Pugh, 58, beloved partner of Skip Sauvain, passed away January 18th, 2008 at St. Vincent Hospice after a valiant struggle with lymphoma. Howell was born in Memphis, Tennessee to Walter Howell and Katye Read Pugh on May 12th, 1949, the youngest of three children. He graduated from Central High School and left the south for Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. After graduation he earned his FSA (Fellow Society of Actuaries) and worked most of his entire career in the insurance industry. His early work took him to Louisville, KY, and Binghamton, NY. During the last 30+ years he was a Vice President with State Life Insurance in Indianapolis, IN; First Penn Pacific Life Insurance, Oak Brook Terrace, ILL; Lincoln Re & Swiss Re of Ft. Wayne, IN. For the past five years he was President of Howell Pugh Consulting in Indianapolis; and served as an adjunct professor at Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis. Howell was an officer in the Society of Actuaries, a chairman and speaker at many annual conferences and a respected expert on Pandemic Flu Epidemic. He was a volunteer with the American Red Cross and Tails A Waggin pet rescue society. Hal was pre-dece...[more]

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d by his mother Katye Read Pugh and his mother-in-law Margaret Rigdon Sauvain. He leaves in deep mourning his father Walter H. Pugh, Denver, CO; sisters Beverly P. Smith (Sidney), Denver, Co; and Cheryl P. Groesbeck, Shelton, CT; nephews Steven (Debbie) Smith; Casey (Laura) Smith and Walt Smith, all of Denver, CO. In addition to Skip he is survived by his dog Buddy, his ever-faithful friend and shadow, and feline pals Buster, Marigold and Isabelle. His was a quietly passionate soul?but intensely involved in the real matters of the world. A friendly intellectual, lover of books, obscure films and their directors, and as his best friend and college roommate recently said ?a thoroughly decent human being.? Truer words were never spoken; even to his detriment he stood for what he thought and felt was right. Never the spotlight seeker he lived life easily and always in the moment. He loved to devour important newspapers, cook, garden, linger in art museums, and, of course, take Buddy for daily walks. Howell lived for 16 years with non-Hodgkin?s Lymphoma. For the last six months he was supported by a second family of dedicated, intelligent and compassionate nurses at the 6 South Oncology Unit of St. Vincent Hospital. To them and to Dr. Robert Manges, goes our profound gratitude. You gave us security and respect on the difficult roller coaster of cancer treatment. Memorial contributions may be made to the ?Howell Pugh Memorial Fund, 6 South Oncology Nurses Education Support? in care of the St. Vincent Foundation, 8402 Harcourt Rd., Suite 210, Indianapolis, IN 46240. Visitation with his family will be Friday, January 25th from 4-7pm. Services will be held on Saturday, January 26th at 11am, with calling one hour before the service. Leppert Mortuary, 740 E. 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN. ?never forget that nothing in this world is as important as loving others and knowing you are loved?.?