Glen Williams Howell, born on February 22, 1932, in Franklin, New Hampshire, to Reverend John F.W. Howell and Mildred (Keppy) Howell, lived a life filled with curiosity, ingenuity, and love. Two years later, he welcomed his sister, with whom he shared birthday celebrations and the delight of a day off from school thanks to the national holiday. Frequent family moves followed his father’s calling, and just before a move to Cape Cod — where they weathered a hurricane — his brother John was born. The family eventually settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Glen attended the University of Michigan, where he studied mechanical engineering and played clarinet in the renowned Michigan Marching Band. He often joked that he pursued his master’s degree hoping the football team would reach the Rose Bowl, which would have afforded him the chance to travel to California. While that trip didn’t happen, it led instead to a job interview at Caltech, where he began work at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), specializing in valves and fuel propulsion at the dawn of the space race after Russia’s launch of Sputnik.
In Pasadena, Glen met Nancy, and in 1959 they were married by his father. They first lived in Westwood while Nancy completed her studies at UCLA, then settled in Mar Vista, where they spent the rest of their lives together.
Glen’s career as a “rocket scientist” took flight when a group of aerospace engineers from JPL formed Space Technology Laboratories in Redondo Beach and invited him to join. Among his lasting professional contributions was co-authoring “The Aerospace Fluid Component Designers Handbook,” Volumes 1 and 2 — publications that continue to influence engineers today. Glen was recognized for his participation in the Lunar Module Descent Engine during the Apollo 11 mission.
A friendship with fellow TRW engineer Jerry Buss, also a Mar Vista neighbor, led to many family trips to Mammoth Lakes and Palm Springs, and later to Lakers games. During a lull in work at TRW, Glen and a colleague designed a new hybrid vehicle by converting a Volkswagen Bug — an idea far ahead of its time. When they presented it in Detroit, they were told cars could “only run on gasoline.” Years later, Glen proudly purchased one of the first Toyota Prius models imported to the U.S.
In the final decade of his career, Glen served as a consultant for Japan’s space program, making more than 35 trips overseas. He learned to speak and read Japanese and advised on rocket propulsion and the construction of the Space Station. He formed close friendships abroad and even hosted a Japanese student in his home, welcoming him as part of the family.
Glen’s lifelong passion for learning and exploration took him around the world. He joined educational expeditions with colleges and universities — including marine biology studies in the British Virgin Islands, cultural exploration in Tahiti and Belize, and botanical fieldwork in Peru with botanist Mildred Mathias. He climbed Mt. Kinabalu in Borneo, rafted the Colorado River, hiked the Grand Canyon, explored Alaska’s coast studying birds, and traveled to Cuba for cultural study. He and Nancy celebrated anniversaries by climbing Mt. Whitney and embarking on adventures across the Americas.
As a member and leader in the TRW Wilderness Club, Glen guided hikes through the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains and shared countless outdoor adventures with Nancy — backpacking in Mammoth, cross-country skiing in Sequoia, and canoeing on the Colorado River. In retirement, he returned to his musical roots, playing clarinet with the Santa Monica Emeritus Concert Band. He also volunteered as a docent at Charmlee Park, introducing inner-city students to the Pacific Ocean for the first time, and later at the Adamson House, sharing Malibu’s history. His research into Mar Vista’s past contributed to a book celebrating the community’s early days.
Though raised in various Protestant traditions, Glen’s study of world religions led him to join the Unitarian Universalist congregation, a reflection of his openness and respect for all belief systems. In 2006 he spoke at UUSM about “Rocket Science” (see flyer above).
Above all, Glen was a devoted family man. He cherished time with his children — serving as a Scoutmaster for his son Ron’s troop, organizing adventures and camping trips, and cheering proudly as his daughter Linda competed professionally in tennis, including at Wimbledon. The family’s many travels — to Jackson Hole for skiing, to Baja and Leo Carrillo Beach for camping — reflected Glen’s love of nature and togetherness.
Inventive and resourceful, Glen was known for fixing anything with creativity and precision. Friends marveled at his homemade pulley system that gently closed the family’s back screen door — an elegant solution that embodied his practical genius.
On December 8, 2025, Glen passed peacefully, surrounded by love. His life was a testament to curiosity, kindness, and a boundless sense of wonder—a life that continues to inspire all who knew him.
If you wish to honor Glen, visit Rocky Mountain National Park or make a donation to the Sierra Club.
