Howard Milton Mandigo, Jr., 93, of Indiana, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019 at High Haven, his home.
Howard was born Sept. 28, 1926, in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, to the late Howard M. Mandigo, Sr. and Alice Ruby Douglass.
Mr. Mandigo graduated from Westmount High School, Montreal, Quebec in 1946, then moved to Richford, Vermont. To help his family with the family dairy farm. Howard married Elizabeth Jane Bishop on May 15, 1953 in Saint John, New Brunswick. He loved wildflowers, ballroom dancing, and playing swing band music on clarinet and saxophone with Weed’s Imperial Orchestra in the 1950’s. They played for dances in Vermont and southern Quebec.
Howard served in the U.S. Army Signal Corp from 1954 to 1957, using a wide variety of drafting skills as the battalion artist. He enjoyed painting signs for the post exchange store at the Sacramento Signal Depot. During this atypical military assignment, he completed an art instruction correspondence course which he began while working on the farm. Artistic skills such as drawing, painting, photography, and carpentry remained very important to him.
Howard became a citizen of the United States and attended Indiana State Teachers College (now IUP) using benefits of the G.I. Bill. He graduated in January 1960, having earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. He taught biology at the Cresson High School until June of that year and then began graduate study. He earned his Master’s degree in education in June 1962.
Mr. Mandigo was employed for 28 years by the Indiana Area School District. The majority of those years he taught ninth grade biology and earth science. He was famous for classroom antics, such as demonstrating types of bird flights, and for being an outstanding and challenging teacher. Numerous past students shared with him their appreciation for how they learned to love nature because of his teaching and inspiration. They recount(ed) how they are reminded of Mr. Mandigo when the trees bud in springtime and they are able to identify birds and plants by common and genus species names. Howard was recognized by the district for dedication to teaching excellence in May 2002. He was the district’s first varsity gymnastics coach in the 1960’s.
Mr. Mandigo was a member of the Calvary Presbyterian Church for 62 years, serving as both an elected elder and deacon. He was a patient and gracious man who humbly and quietly lived his faith every day.
He was a longtime member of the Indiana’s Kiwanis Club, whose focus is “changing the world on child at a time.” He was Club President and was awarded a George F. Hixson Fellowship. He was a member of the Indiana Slide Club from 1960 to 2010, where he shared his enthusiasm for photography with others.
Papa dearly and gently loved his daughters and grandchildren, the ocean, downhill skiing, spending time special friends, tent camping, traveling across the United States and Canada, building models of historic tall ships, and gardening.
Howard was a beloved husband, father and grandfather. He modeled compassion as a tremendous caregiver for his wife Elizabeth. His daughters firmly believe he was the finest father in the world. His favorite things of all were to hold Elizabeth’s hand, appreciate Hannah’s artwork and dancing, and to listen to Andrew play music on horn, piano, and pipe organ.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Jane (Bishop) Mandigo, of Indiana; three daughters: Mary Lynn Kingston, of Pittsburgh; Nancy Lee Mandigo, of Indiana; Heidi Beth Earhart, of Indiana; two grandchildren: Hannah Mandigo Fullerton, of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Andrew Bennett Earhart, of East Lyme, Connecticut; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law, David Fullerton and his sister, Janet Mildred Mandigo.
There is no visitation. A celebration of Howard’s life will be held in late December. Further details will be shared.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests memorial contributions be made to Calvary Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 695 School Street, Indiana, PA 15701.
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