Seth Paul Howard

Seth Paul Howard was born on Wednesday, April 13, 1994 at Parkview Medical Center in Brunswick, Maine to Rick and Eunice Howard and his brother John.  He was an answer to prayer and Seth made their family complete.  Their home was a happy home and it didn’t take long for his family to realize Seth loved to laugh.

When Seth was 8 months old, the Navy transferred their family to Jacksonville, Florida and they made their home in Orange Park. His brother John was almost 9 years older than Seth. John had an interest in music from an early age and taught himself to play his Dad’s guitar.  By the time John was a young teenager, he played regularly at home.

During Seth’s elementary years, it was apparent he had an interest in math and problem solving.  He was tested and admitted to gifted classes, which was a very important thing for everyone involved, except Seth.  He was simply having fun and doing what he liked to do best.  It also became apparent that Seth really loved a challenge.  Whether it was math or football or simply getting all A’s because his brother did, Seth was up for it.  Seth also became interested in music.  After watching John develop his guitar skills, Seth became interested in playing drums. And at the age of 12, for $250, his parents bought his first set of drums from a friend at church.

By the time Seth reached junior high, his brother John was already touring the country with his band, Casey Jones.  Seth was busy with school, track, football, drumming, making friends and having fun.  John had observed Seth’s talent for drums and suggested to his parents that they take a leap and upgrade Seth’s drum set.  That Christmas, Seth received the set that he would play for the rest of his life.

Seth excelled at everything he did, and it still seemed important to everybody else except Seth.  He was simply having fun and doing what he liked to do.  He continued gifted classes through junior high and played football through the ninth grade.  By the end of that football season, he was pulled up to the junior varsity team.  The fascinating thing is, Seth was never interested in football and had never watched a football game.  Seth only enjoyed the challenge.

By the time he reached high school, Seth wanted to try some other things.  He decided to stop playing football and discontinue his gifted classes.  Of course his parents wondered if he was making a big mistake, but were confident that he was going to do well at whatever he wanted to pursue and agreed to let him explore.  He wanted to focus more on his first love, music and drumming.  He also became interested in drama.  This lasted through high school while he played in several bands and decided what would come next.

After graduation, Seth immediately entered college and attended FSCJ.   During this time he began playing small venues with a handful of bands.  By the time he transferred to the University of Florida, he had been playing drums very steadily for 8 years and the band Yashira was beginning to form.  Seth loved Yashira and really wanted to pursue it more, but knew how important it was to his parents that he finish college first.   For three and a half years, he worked at earning his degree while commuting to Jacksonville for practice and taking time out to tour with Yashira.  If that wasn’t enough, he had begun working as a bar back at The Top.

Seth graduated in December 2017 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.  But just like football before, it was all about the challenge.  He never really planned on working as an engineer.   And although it seemed important to everybody else, Seth was simply having fun and doing what he loved. 

Just in case you’re wondering, Seth wasn’t limited to drums, he dabbled at guitar, and played the piano beautifully.

Seth loved a challenge.  Seth loved having fun.  Seth loved his family at The Top.  Seth loved his family in Yashira.  Seth loved people.  And Seth loved his family.  In the last few months, Seth added one more love to the list, Lucy.

On the evening of Saturday December 29th, Seth’s beautiful life came to a close.  But as evidenced by the outpouring of posts, kindnesses, support and generosity, Seth’s love remains.  His family always realized the treasure he was, but only recently realized its unlimited effect and reach.   Seth exhibited and generated more beauty and kindness in his brief life than most generate in much longer lives.  And while we will all miss his smile, his laughter, his talents and his abilities, we can also make the world much better by remembering his kindness, his gentleness, his encouragement and the love he so selflessly shared.

We will miss you Seth.  Rest in peace.