Taking the last highway home; A tribute to Dennis ‘Matt’ Howe

aking the last highway home; A tribute to Dennis ‘Matt’ HoweThe widow of Matt Howe is escorted to a DOT truck, where she rode as part of the tribute procession on March 25, 2019 in Owego. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)

In an outpouring of love, support and respect for Tioga County resident, Dennis “Matt” Howe and his family, hundreds of guests visited the Estey, Munroe and Fahey Funeral Home in Owego on March 24, 2019.

aking the last highway home; A tribute to Dennis ‘Matt’ Howe
Hundreds gather outside of the Owego United Methodist Church on March 25, 2019, following a service for Matt Howe. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)

At Howe’s funeral on March 25, 2019, hundreds more attended the service at the United Methodist Church on Main Street in Owego, which included State Department of Transportation employees, along with the County, Towns and Villages represented.

aking the last highway home; A tribute to Dennis ‘Matt’ Howe
DOT trucks, with police controlling traffic on a closed off Main Street, await the funeral procession on March 25, 2019. (Photo by Wendy Post)

Howe, a State Department of Transportation (DOT) employee, passed away on March 18, following injuries he sustained when a tractor-trailer collided with a DOT truck in a work zone on March 13 in Nichols, N.Y.

The public gathered on the sidewalks to honor Howe as a procession traveled throughout the Village of Owego and Route 17. Owego and Campville Fire Departments set up their ladder trucks, and extended the U.S. Flag for the procession to drive under at the south end of the Court Street Bridge.

aking the last highway home; A tribute to Dennis ‘Matt’ Howe
Fire trucks parked, on the shoulder of Route 434 near the Court Street Bridge await the procession on March 25, 2019. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)

New York State Department of Transportation Region 9 Public Information Officer, Dave Hamburg, shared, “I cannot say enough about the traveling public to move over, and slow down.”

Hamburg was referring to New York State’s “Move Over Law,” which requires motorists to exercise due care to avoid colliding with an authorized emergency or hazard vehicle that is stopped on the side of the road with flashing lights. This law pertains to DOT personnel in work zones. 

Hamburg said, “Drivers need to be respectful to workers on the road, and give them space. This incident involving Matt Howe was senseless and avoidable.”

aking the last highway home; A tribute to Dennis ‘Matt’ Howe
Owego and Campville Fire Departments set up their ladder trucks on March 25, 2019 and extended the U.S. Flag for the procession to drive under at the south end of the Court Street Bridge. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)

Hamburg added, “Howe should be regarded as a hero.”

Hamburg described Howe as an exemplary worker with the DOT. At the time of the accident, Howe was in an advance-warning vehicle in the work zone. In that role, Hamburg explained, Howe was protecting his co-workers, and had he not been there, Hamburg remarked that the accident potentially could have been even more tragic. 

Hamburg added that DOT personnel throughout the State feel a deep sense of loss.

aking the last highway home; A tribute to Dennis ‘Matt’ Howe
The widow of Matt Howe is handed his ashes, which were carried in a DOT truck as part of the tribute procession on March 25, 2019 in Owego. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)

“Matt will not be able to experience life’s milestones, and had his whole life ahead of him,” Hamburg remarked, adding, “There aren’t enough words to express this tragedy.”

In addition to his work with the DOT, Howe was active in the community, and was a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary.  

Howe is survived by his wife, Alycia Haus; daughter, Bre Howe; son, Dalton Howe; parents, Denise and Chris Hall; two brothers and sister-in-law, Joe and Anne Hall, Christopher George; sister and brother-in-law, Alicia and Stephen Rodriguez; grandparents, Roger and Pat Howe, Dorothy Ahern, Fay Hall; mother-in-law, Nora Allard; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Stacey and Royce Adams; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. 

aking the last highway home; A tribute to Dennis ‘Matt’ Howe
Two bagpipe players perform a tribute outside following the funeral service for Matt Howe at the United Methodist Church in Owego. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)

In Howe’s memory, contributions may be made to the VFW Post 1371, 207 Main St., Owego, N.Y. 13827 or the Tioga County Rural Ministry, 143 North Ave., Owego, N.Y. 13827.

A GoFundMe account to assist the family of Matt Howe can be found at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-show-your-support-for-a-nysdot-worker.

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