A young man’s life was cut short just days after celebrating one of his proudest moments: walking across the stage at the University of Rhode Island. Timothy “Timmy” Howard, a 22‑year‑old recent graduate, lost his life to a devastating peanut allergy. The incident serves as a stark and heartbreaking reminder of how serious and sudden food allergies can be.
Timmy earned his degree in communication studies and was looking forward to a bright future with a summer internship lined up. His family described him as a “positive, upbeat, kind, quiet soul,” someone who was on the cusp of starting his adult life. On May 24, only a few days after his graduation, Timmy felt ill after eating a late‑night snack at home. Unknown to him, it contained peanuts— an allergen he was severely sensitive to.
What happened next was frighteningly fast. He woke his parents, struggling to breathe. His father, Tim Howard, said it all unfolded “over a matter of minutes.” Despite their best efforts, using multiple EpiPens and calling emergency services, Timmy slipped away before help could arrive. His mother, Patty, later reflected, “He was on the cusp of living his life,” capturing the immense potential tragically lost.
The Howard family is left with agonizing questions: How did a simple snack contain peanuts? Had he accidentally skipped allergy precautions? Though they don’t have answers to everything, what they are certain of is how utterly preventable this could have been. Now, they’ve made it their mission to raise awareness about food allergies. “We just want to bring awareness about reading labels and looking at the ingredients,” Patty said.
His sister, Julia, who also has food allergies, urged both consumers and companies to take responsibility. She said warning labels like “may contain” must carry real weight. For consumers, they represent life or death. For manufacturers, they must mean more than a legal disclaimer; they must signal danger.
Timmy’s loss has galvanized a community. His fraternity brothers from URI’s Phi Kappa Psi are raising funds for FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) in his memory, which reflects how his legacy continues through positive action. Beyond fundraising, his family is hopeful this tragedy will prevent future heartbreak. “Maybe we can help another family, so they don’t go through what we just went through hell and back,” Patty said.
Even in their grief, the Howards are inspired by Timmy’s ability to help others. He was an organ donor, and his gift has saved four lives, proving that, despite the tragedy, Timmy’s generous spirit lives on.
0 Comments