Howard Nixon Sr

Howard Joseph Nixon, Sr.
1930 - 2023

Naugatuck, CT Howard Joseph Nixon, Sr., affectionately known as Howie, passed away on June 24, 2023, at the age of 92 at The Lutheran Home in Southbury, CT. He was born on November 15, 1930, in Naugatuck, CT, to John and Madeline Nixon.

Howie was a man who lived his life with kindness, humility and a warm smile. He was a devout Roman Catholic, and his faith was the cornerstone of his life. Howie practiced his faith every day through prayers for hundreds of family members and friends, living a truly faithful life.

Howie was preceded in death by his parents, John and Madeline, his brothers John, Richard, Irving, David, Louis, and Terrence Nixon, and his sisters, Mary Nixon Shank and Ann Nixon Carmody. He was also predeceased by his son David John Nixon.


Howie was married to the love of his life, Betsey Smith Nixon for 68 years. Together they had five children: Howard J. Nixon Jr., David J. Nixon, Ellen B. Nixon Mancuso, Sheila W. Nixon, and Timothy G. Nixon. Howie is survived by his brother Kevin, his son Howard Jr., daughter Ellen and her husband Richard Mancuso, his daughter Sheila Nixon, and son Timothy Nixon and his wife Lisa Sansone. Howie also leaves behind nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.


Howie attended St. Francis of Assisi School for his primary education and Naugatuck High School for his secondary education. He went on to attend and graduate from Dean Junior College in Massachusetts. In 1952, Howie was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War and served his 2+ years in South Korea, returning home in 1954. He was a proud veteran.
Howie worked at Uniroyal Inc., in the Synthetic and Chemical Divisions, in Naugatuck, for 32 years and retired at the age of 62.


Howie was an incredible athlete, a lifelong swimmer and adult softball player but was best known for his running career. He was an avid runner for over five decades, running six marathons and well over 25 thousands of miles.


A viewing will be held on Tuesday, June 27th from 9:30 am to 10:30am at the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church Street, Naugatuck. Burial will immediately follow at St. James Cemetery, Cross Street, Naugatuck. In lieu of flowers, one of Howie’s favorite charities was the Association of Marian Helpers: https://marian.org/amh.

The family wishes to thank all the staff at the Lutheran Home of Southbury for the loving care they provided Howie.