Alan Graham Howes, Sr., 81, of New Hartford, beloved partner of Leslie M. Cole, died Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at John Dempsey Hospital. He was born May 29, 1936 in Boston, MA, son of the late Alan and Anne (Graham) Howes and had lived in Avon prior to moving to New Hartford 42 years ago. Alan was a veteran of the Korean War having served in the U.S. Air Force. A lifelong automobile enthusiast had him around vehicles for both his professional and personal life, even though his career started in banking. He was a member and past officer of the Valley Collector Car Club, a long time member of SCCA first joining in 1972 during which he was Regional executive and head of the New England Region for 12 years. He was the pace car driver at Lime Rock for many years. He championed a racecar in two Rolex 24-hour races, and he was also the only safety car driver during another Daytona 24-hour race to ever stop the race due to fog, delaying it for about an hour. In 1975, he moved his business, the Portia Parlor, to the farm in New Hartford where much collecting and bartering took place. He was a valuable resource for the movie industry working for Cars on Location to find that unusual car to deliver to the movie set. Riding in Cars with Boys, Spy Game, and Super Troopers featuring his cars as well as Adam Lambert driving his 1967 Cadillac on The Today Show in 2015. Al was a sports fan who loved the Red Sox, the Patriots and UCONN men and women’s basketball. He also loved racing, bowling and spent years as President of the Merchant League, weekly pizza with the guys, and breakfast daily at Countryside.

Besides his loving partner of 36 years, he is survived by his children, Alan Graham Howes, Jr. of Colebrook, Kirstin Cullinane and her husband Michael of New Hartford, Grant Howes and his husband Jason Emerson of Torrington, Robert W. Cole and his wife Pamela of Barkhamsted and Jon Cole and his wife Stacy of Brooklyn, NY; his sister, Judith Howes of Allendale, NJ; his grandchildren, Tyler and Brandon O’Neil, Ashley and Abby Howes, Austin and Ava Cole, Asher and Eyla Cole and Matthew Emerson; his beloved Maine Coon cat, Sheldon, and his grand-dog, Potter. He was predeceased by a sister, Paula Howes, and leaves several nieces and nephews behind.

There are no calling hours. A memorial service will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 8th at the Canton Baptist Church, Dowd Ave. in Canton. Private burial will be in Canton Baptist Cemetery at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Veterans’ Oasis at Tunxis Community College, 271 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington, CT 06032.