Camille Patrice Howard

"Our Camille" was born April 10, 2004 to Bill and Lynn Howard at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, MD. She had one big sister, Hallie, who adored her from birth.

She was our Camille because she belonged to all of us who knew and loved her and were drawn into her world. Her only living grandparents served double duty because Bill's parents passed before she was born. But in Camille's uncanny way she reminded Bill's siblings of their mother.

Camille was quiet and unassuming, unaware of her intellectual gifts or more precisely assuming that everyone was at least as smart as she was. She was compassionate and kind but she did not "suffer fools lightly". From a young age through young adulthood she would pepper you with questions until we adults understood that she had an insatiable curiosity about the world and everything in it. She was constantly expanding her knowledge.

Camille loved her family. Lynn was her confidante and cheerleader, Bill her walking partner, he got a lot of questions on those walks. Hallie was her guide and protector from preschool through high school, Her grandmother shared her love of cooking and gardening and her grandfather was her loving rock. Camille's aunts, uncles, and cousins shared her dry sense of humor and occasional biting wit. Her other big sister Kamryn and her other mom Nicole will miss her deeply. Camille was the historian of the family, tracing our roots back to the 1830s and uncovering correspondence between her namesake great aunt Camilla and W.E.B. DuBois. Camille did these things as if they were effortless and not noteworthy, in her customary humble way.

Camille loved animals, her cat Daphne, Hallie's cat Lacey, her dog Paxton, Miss Juicy, and her Aunt Pat's dog Portia. She loved books and read everything from science fiction, to chapter books with cat characters, The Hobbit, Harry Potter, to wonky public policy books. If a book was laying around, she was prone to picking it up, regardless of the topic or title. Camille loved gardening, growing vegetables and herbs annually.

While at home, she composted organic material for her garden. Camille loved the outdoors, stars, astronomy, birds and landscaping, and computers. She also loved a good cup of coffee, soup from Maki or bubble tea.

Camille touched many lives in her short time with us, her many dear friends from Beverly Farms, Hoover, and Churchill. She enriched their lives with her compassion, humor, and unwavering support. Camille was a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts, staying with the same troop from kindergarten through 12th grade. She enjoyed camping, cooking, hiking, community service projects and leading younger Girl Scouts through World Thinking Day activities.

Camille was a proud member of the Smith College family. Her loyalty to her house, Lawrence, was indicative of her passion for the entire Smith experience. Camille was a dedicated student whose untimely passing has left a profound void in the Smith community.

She participated in the Bird Watching Club as well as the Gaming Club. Camille went to Gaming Conferences in Boston and around New England, sharing the experience with her club members and creating memories. She enjoyed the Black Student alliance events and was a Jeopardy champion with her dad. She enjoyed field trips in New England to explore geology, agriculture, and the ecosystem, with an eye toward understanding our environment and how we interact with it. She was part of a research program studying black holes. Camille also enjoyed attending lectures from visiting professors on a host of Environmental Science topics.

Camille's academic journey at Smith was characterized by intellectual curiosity and a passion for learning. She approached her studies with diligence and enthusiasm, often engaging in thoughtful discussions that enriched the classroom experience for everyone. Her professors recall her as a student who not only excelled academically but also inspired others with her insights and perspectives.

Camille leaves a hole in our hearts, a void that can never be filled. Camille was our shooting star. She illuminated the landscape and horizon of our lives.

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