Howard John Lebwith was recognized around town as the dentist who ran, sometimes from his house in Springs all the way to his office on Main Street in East Hampton. Mr. Lebwith died at home, surrounded by his loved ones, on Nov. 20 at the age of 90. The cause was complications from cancer.
Not only was he a passionate runner, but he also directed many local charitable races, such as Ellen's Run, the Pediatric Dental Fund Race, and the Great Bonac Foot Race. The latter event, of which he was a founder more than 40 years ago, is the longest-running fund-raising race in East Hampton. He was also known to bike long distances and had traveled the world, but always returned to his home in Springs, where he was a member of the Springs Improvement Society and several other organizations.
He was born in New York City on Aug. 20, 1930, the only child of Edward A. Lebwith and the former Dorothy O'Meara. Raised in Queens, Mr. Lebwith graduated from Long Island City High School in 1948 at the age of 17.
He was drafted into the Army and served on the front lines in the Korean War until he was injured in an explosion -- one of only two survivors of the attack. The Army sent him to Japan to recover, during which time he took military classes. He was such an impressive student, his family said, that he became a teacher for the Army and stayed in Japan for the remainder of the war.
In 1960, Mr. Lebwith graduated from New York University's dental school and entered a residency for oral surgery at Queens General, becoming a Doctor of Dental Surgery. Following his residency, he lived in Manhattan and had a dental practice there before moving briefly to Westchester and then to Springs. In East Hampton Village he opened a practice with David Davidson. "Other than caring for his patients' teeth," Mr. Lebwith's family wrote, "he loved to tell stories and comfort them while in the dental chair." He retired about 20 years ago, passing the dental practice on to Louis Profera.
He married the love of his life, Roseanne Kubel, in May of 1966. "Howard declared that Rosey was the kindest person he will ever meet and that he needed to marry her," his family wrote. "They were so in love after all these years together."
Ms. Lebwith survives, as do two children, Jessie Kenny of East Hampton and David Lebwith of California, and three grandchildren, Liam, Georgia, and Carlee Kenny.
Mr. Lebwith "had such a love and enthusiasm for life, and celebrated every day as such," his family wrote. In particular, each birthday was a cause for much celebration, as evidenced by the cross-country bike ride he took when he turned 67 -- which raised money for the Kendall Madison Scholarship Fund -- and a sky-diving excursion with his son for his 75th birthday. Other years there were road races, a run up Mount Washington, half-marathons, and four full marathons, including one in New York City when he was 61. Ms. Kenny joined her father for many runs and rides from a young age onward.
Jack Graves, a friend of Mr. Lebwith's and the longtime sports editor of The Star, recalled him as a wonderful and "very civic-minded" man who also advocated for bike lanes and paths here. "He was courageous and adventurous," Mr. Graves said. "He loved life -- he loved East Hampton."
Mr. Lebwith also loved a small resort town in Mexico called Akumal, visiting with his wife each year for 20 years. "They loved the Mexican people and made many longtime friends," his family wrote.
Mr. Lebwith drew, painted, and carved. His love of the English language and reading made him "a master of vocabulary, trivia, quotes, and an eloquent writer himself," his family wrote.
Although Mr. Lebwith took care of teeth, "he had a love of sweets, especially chocolate," they said. He also loved reading, opera, and classical music, and his family would often find him in his pickup truck, parked in the driveway after he returned from work, taking a timeout eating M&Ms and blasting Vivaldi.
He would sit "in front of the pies at Thanksgiving dinner . . . telling stories while slicing them and eating at least a pie solo," his family wrote. "He really just had a passion for food over all and had a high threshold for the feeling of being full. He used to order six hamburgers and six Cokes when out at restaurants, to the dismay of the waitstaff."
Mr. Lebwith was a past member of the East Hampton Library board, and as a member of the Old Montauk Athletic Club, was honored in 2008 with its athletic community service award. "He was recognized as a humanitarian but also . . . a gentleman, always showing kindness and courtesy" to all those who crossed his path, his family said.
A celebration of his life will be planned in the future, but in the meantime, Ms. Lebwith welcomes visitors to their house, with masks and social distancing. An email can be sent to [email protected] to set up a time to visit. In honor of Mr. Lebwith's love of literature, his family has suggested memorial donations to the East Hampton Library, 159 Main Street in East Hampton 11937.
