Memories of Howard Ross Cleveland

In memory of

Howard Ross Cleveland

Sarasota, FL, USA

March 11, 1948 - February 11, 2020

Mar 11, 1948 - Feb 11, 2020

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Paul Serpentini

I’m so sorry for your families loss,Howard was such a great guy, he was always smiling
Paul serp

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Gordon Weeman

My deepest condolences go out to Howard’s entire family. I have many fond memories of our time spent together at his house in Bath, on the golf course and with friends at Gasoline Alley. May he Rest In Peace! Gordy Weeman

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Gordon Weeman

Brandon Sander

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Vince Lufey (a.k.a. Cuz, he named me after My Cousin Vinny)

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Vince Lufey (a.k.a. Cuz, he named me after My Cousin Vinny)

I moved to Sarasota a little over 2 years ago from the DC area, I met Howard and after that it was like we were catching up on old times. He was great to talk with, a very intellectual man and of course he had a witty sense of humor!! He introduced me to all of his friends, making it easier for me to acclimate to this new city. We went to a baseball game once, it is one of the fondest memories I have of him. I know that somewhere up there he is telling dirty jokes and making new friends!! Howard, you will alway's be missed.

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Tracy Peacepuss

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Ginger Goode

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Kurt Landefeld

I learned only recently that Howard lived just half an hour from us here in Florida.

And even more recently that we had mutual friends in our community.

We were going to get together for a beer in Sarasota when he texted that he had to go
to Tampa for a stent.

Then...

Howard and I met at Hesselbart & Mitten/Arocom in the late 80s, about six months after Mr. Mitten passed.

We worked together on a couple large accounts. He was the account guy (of course!); I was the writer.

Allen-Bradley.
Rubbermaid.
Picker.

Then he left for Watt, Roop/Cleveland.

And a couple years later he called and asked me to join him there.

Was probably the highlight of my agency years.

We worked on the AT&T/NCR account producing monthly ads for their PC business.

Big stuff.
Exciting stuff.
Comdex.
The pressure of responding to a huge and growing market that changed every 30 days. Literally.

This was 1993-95.

A pivotal time in the ad industry.

The birth of the Internet.

And Howard understood it sooner and faster than anyone.

I remember January 1995 when he returned from a conference in Phoenix struck as though he were St. Paul on the road to Damascus.

He’d seen the dawning of the mass Internet and knew...KNEW...that it represented a revolution that would reverberate through every part of our lives.

Then NCR went away.

And we went away.

In different directions.

Then he called again.

1998.

This time he had a new company of his own.

And he’d landed another BIG client: Ernst & Young.

And he wanted my writing help again: To re-do the entirety of their website.

A huge and wonderful project.

Which included, among other things, a trip to NYC to pitch the whole account.

But E&Y wasn’t ready to buy a “boutique” agency then, sticking with a Madison Ave. Big Boy.

Still...

Our paths crossed infrequently after that.

Then my wife and I moved to Florida.

And, as I said, only just recently I learned he had too.

A final comment: Howard was fearless.
He’d go up against anybody to get the business.

And creative.
His mind worked constantly.

And fun.

I think back through the nicknames he gave people.

Peanuts.
Peeper.
Big Ginger.

You know who you are.

And Otto.

That’s me.

I still can’t believe I’m not going to hear that voice calling across the room for a long, cold one and a much-needed catching up
across the years.

Here’s to many toasts to Howard at one of our favorite Bath hangouts: Gasoline Alley.

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Susan Shorten

NC, USA

Howie was my first boyfriend in 6th grade, if that really counts. Howie was my first kiss - only on the cheek, but he counted every kiss competing with his friend who was kissing my best friend. LOL. How young we were. He was always such a favorite of everyone in our class. Condolences to all of his family and friends who obviously loved him so much. A light in so many lives - gone too soon.

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