Howard Franklin Topper, of Hudson NY passed away peacefully in the early hours of November 26. He was 95 and would have been 96 in January. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Mildred Darvick Topper, 3 daughters-Sondra Topper (Las Vegas NV) Audrey Topper (Kinderhook NY) Judith Topper (Sanford FL) and son Philip Cohen (Las Vegas NV). He was the beloved grandfather of 10-Stefany Mills (Asheville NC) Sam Cohen (Las Vegas NV) Kate Cohen (Las Vegas NV) Adam Cohen (Las Vegas NV) Sarah Smetana (Port Washington NY) the late Saram Colton (Kinderhook NY) Benjamin Leviton (Winthrop ME) Jonathan Leviton (Orlando FL) Alexander Leviton (Brandon FL) Karalyn Leviton (Berlin DE) and great grandfather of 8-Lilly Mills (Asheville NC) Abby Mills (Asheville NC) Cyrus Cohen (Las Vegas NV) Leylah Small (Las Vegas NV) Charlotte Cress (Las Vegas NV) Harrison Smetana (Port Washington NY) Bradley Smetana (Port Washington NY) Terrance Smetana (Port Washington NY). He was preceded in death by his sister Erna Topper Newman but always enjoyed visits and phone calls from his nephews Arnold Newman, Paul Newman and niece Anne Newman Hirshfield.
Howard was born and raised in Bronx NY, graduated from Dewitt Clinton High school and joined the Army Air Corps. He was stationed in Italy, where he was a tail gunner and belly gunner with the 454th Bombardment Group, the Flight of the Liberators, in the European theater during WWII, surviving being shot down twice and awarded 2 Purple Hearts. After the war he attended Ohio University, graduating in three years. By then, during summer vacation, he had met his beloved Mildred in Copake NY and they married in 1947 while he was finishing his studies. They moved back to Hudson NY which would be their permanent home and where they would raise their family. Howard owned and operated Columbia Beer in Hudson and was an active member of the community. He was a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner, Master of Aquila Lodge No. 700 and one time Grand Master of the New York State Masonic Lodge. He was also a member of the VFW serving as Commander, Elks Club, Polish Sportsman Club, and was on the Hudson City Planning Commission Board.
Howard and Mildred enjoyed traveling the world with their best friends, the late Janice and Arthur Koweek and the late Rita and Lou Bell and Howard, with his artist’s eye, took fabulous pictures of their travels. He loved art and music and learning new languages and was one of the first in Hudson to use computers in his business. His love of technology continued through his 90s and he was one of the few people his age online and on social media daily, keeping in touch with his far flung family.
Interment service was held at Cedar Park Cemetery on November 30, 2020 but due to Covid-19 restrictions, attendance was restricted to only local immediate family.
To remember Howard, the family asks that donations be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children.