Howard Stein was securing a load on his truck on the side of Rte. 2 westbound in Acton, Massachusetts when a 17 yr. old driver struck and killed him, pinning him between her vehicle and his truck. The young driver was programming her GPS at the time of the crash, causing her vehicle to drift into the breakdown lane.
Howard was a teacher, master carpenter, a fine woodworker, and an enthusiast of life. He was born in New York City and raised in Dumont, NJ. He attended Colgate University, where he received his B.A. in literature. In 1970, he studied abroad at Bangor University in Wales. He taught 4th grade at Emerson School in Bolton, MA, where he met Julie. They married in 1978 and after their honeymoon, they started building their home in W. Townsend, MA.
As a teacher, he was known to think outside the box; coaching soccer to his students at recess before the sport became popular, baking a giant-sized chocolate chip cookie for a math unit in estimation, and guiding his class in publishing a monthly newspaper. Soon after their daughter Emily was born in 1981, Howard switched careers to carpentry and established Stein Construction. Most recently, he refined his skills in woodworking and in picture framing. His legacy is spread across MA in the houses and additions he built in the last two decades.
At the time of the crash, Howard’s daughter Emily was 6 months pregnant and he was excited to become a grandfather for the first time.
Stein’s daughter, Emily, and the driver who killed him are featured in the “Just a Few Seconds” PSA video produced by Joel Feldman of EndDD.org. The video has become part of the EndDD.org distracted driving presentation and both Emily and the 17 yr old driver have become speakers for EndDD.org. Emily is currently President of Safe Roads Alliance where she is a traffic safety advocate.
