Douglas Howlett, former Superintendent of Alice Costello School, Brooklawn

His devotion to passing on knowledge to help others better themselves was evident in his everyday life, from his career as a superintendent to his seasonal hobbies, skiing and sailing.

Mr. Howlett was \”a teacher at heart,\” said his wife, Cheri.

While completing his doctorate in education at Temple University, Mr. Howlett was hired in 1975 as principal and superintendent of Alice Costello Elementary School, the only school in the Brooklawn district.

He quickly became known for smart leadership in managing the district\’s budget and for working hard on teachers\’ contracts, former School Board President Kathleen Maass said.

Mr. Howlett\’s down-to-earth personality allowed him to be strict on policies and have a take-charge attitude that people could appreciate, Maass said.

\”He trained the school board secretaries himself, and there were quite a few of them,\” she said.

As superintendent, he developed special-education and child-study team services, and implemented a program for gifted and talented students.

A technology geek for most of his life – he owned a video camera and an early cell phone – Mr. Howlett planned, installed, and maintained the school\’s computers and computer lab.

His last major project before retiring in 1999 was renovation of the school, which had been built in the 1920s.