Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Name“Pam” Pamela Denise HOWELL 
470, Dennis Guy Howell-Obituary,470, Pamela Denise “Pam” Howell-Beach
470, Dennis Guy Howell-Obituary,470, Pamela Denise “Pam” Howell-BeachBirthNov 9, 1956, Marion, McDowell County, North Carolina470, Pamela Denise “Pam” Howell-Beach
DeathJul 28, 2022470, Pamela Denise “Pam” Howell-Beach
BurialCremated470, Pamela Denise “Pam” Howell-Beach
FatherDennis Guy HOWELL (1933-1997)
MotherMary Jean McKINNEY (1933-2021)
Spouses
Marriage1984470, Pamela Denise “Pam” Howell-Beach-Obituary
Obituary Online notes for “Pam” Pamela Denise HOWELL
Pam Howell-Beach was born November 9, 1956, in Marion, NC, and later moved with her family to Archbold, Ohio, where she grew up.
After high school, she started work as a secretary at Globe Weiss Manufacturing and, in typical fashion, rose quickly to director of transportation, including direct oversight of the company's fifteen truck drivers, all of whom were deathly afraid of her.
In 1984 she married Bob Beach and moved to Toledo. She charmed his three children, Cindy, Pandy and Adrian, whom she adored, and later their spouses and five children of their own.
Unhappy with corporate life and looking for purpose, she enrolled at the University of Toledo, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and Psychology. She started work as the first Program Officer for the Toledo Community Foundation, where she found her calling in the field of philanthropy. She earned a Master's Degree in Social Science from Case Western Reserve University and ascended to the job of Executive Director, then President of the Toledo Community Foundation. Toledo Donors liked and trusted Pam and opened their checkbooks-by the time she left in 2003 she had increased the foundation's assets from approximately $20 million to nearly $100 million.
She then accepted the job of CEO of the Stranahan Foundation, where she sought out partnerships with major foundations like the Bezos Foundation, the Gates Foundation and the Buffet Early Childhood Fund and became a national leader in early childhood funding. She was much sought after as a speaker on foundation matters and early childhood education, and traveled throughout the country and overseas to speak and conduct workshops.
Pam saw the best in people and was convinced it was possible to make the world a better place. She put love, faith in others, and boundless optimism into her work and earned the love, loyalty and respect of the Stranahan family and board members, employees and professional friends around the country in return.
Her explanation for her success was "It's amazing the progress you can achieve if you let others take the credit for it." Despite her aversion to the spotlight, she earned a plethora of professional honors during her career, including the Twenty Under Forty recognition, YWCA's Milestones Tribute to Women Award, the Philanthropy Ohio Leadership Award, the Greater Toledo Community Foundation Outstanding Leadership Award and commendations from Toledo City Council, the Mayor of Toledo, The Ohio State Senate and House of Representatives and the U.S. House of Representatives.
She enjoyed exploring the world with her husband, including backpacking and bicycling trips all across the U.S. and Canada, as well as more conventional travel in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Spain, France, Hungary, Austria, Australia and New Zealand.
Pam led a rich and rewarding life, filled with the love of her family and many friends. She had a great fondness for animals, especially the many rescued cats that ruled their home over the years.
She was preceded in death by her father, Guy, and mother, Jean.
She leaves behind her loving husband, Bob; brother, Dennis (Tanya); nephews, Ryan and Kiel (Sarah); stepchildren, Pandy (Dave), Adrian (Julie) and Cindy; and five step-grandchildren. She loved her family with all of her heart, just as she loved her life and work, and she will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
A memorial service will be held and announced at a later time. Memorial contributions may to made to the Toledo Community Foundation for Pam's Fund, which supports the Paws and Whiskers no-kill cat shelter. Coyle Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.470, Pamela Denise “Pam” Howell-Beach
After high school, she started work as a secretary at Globe Weiss Manufacturing and, in typical fashion, rose quickly to director of transportation, including direct oversight of the company's fifteen truck drivers, all of whom were deathly afraid of her.
In 1984 she married Bob Beach and moved to Toledo. She charmed his three children, Cindy, Pandy and Adrian, whom she adored, and later their spouses and five children of their own.
Unhappy with corporate life and looking for purpose, she enrolled at the University of Toledo, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and Psychology. She started work as the first Program Officer for the Toledo Community Foundation, where she found her calling in the field of philanthropy. She earned a Master's Degree in Social Science from Case Western Reserve University and ascended to the job of Executive Director, then President of the Toledo Community Foundation. Toledo Donors liked and trusted Pam and opened their checkbooks-by the time she left in 2003 she had increased the foundation's assets from approximately $20 million to nearly $100 million.
She then accepted the job of CEO of the Stranahan Foundation, where she sought out partnerships with major foundations like the Bezos Foundation, the Gates Foundation and the Buffet Early Childhood Fund and became a national leader in early childhood funding. She was much sought after as a speaker on foundation matters and early childhood education, and traveled throughout the country and overseas to speak and conduct workshops.
Pam saw the best in people and was convinced it was possible to make the world a better place. She put love, faith in others, and boundless optimism into her work and earned the love, loyalty and respect of the Stranahan family and board members, employees and professional friends around the country in return.
Her explanation for her success was "It's amazing the progress you can achieve if you let others take the credit for it." Despite her aversion to the spotlight, she earned a plethora of professional honors during her career, including the Twenty Under Forty recognition, YWCA's Milestones Tribute to Women Award, the Philanthropy Ohio Leadership Award, the Greater Toledo Community Foundation Outstanding Leadership Award and commendations from Toledo City Council, the Mayor of Toledo, The Ohio State Senate and House of Representatives and the U.S. House of Representatives.
She enjoyed exploring the world with her husband, including backpacking and bicycling trips all across the U.S. and Canada, as well as more conventional travel in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Spain, France, Hungary, Austria, Australia and New Zealand.
Pam led a rich and rewarding life, filled with the love of her family and many friends. She had a great fondness for animals, especially the many rescued cats that ruled their home over the years.
She was preceded in death by her father, Guy, and mother, Jean.
She leaves behind her loving husband, Bob; brother, Dennis (Tanya); nephews, Ryan and Kiel (Sarah); stepchildren, Pandy (Dave), Adrian (Julie) and Cindy; and five step-grandchildren. She loved her family with all of her heart, just as she loved her life and work, and she will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
A memorial service will be held and announced at a later time. Memorial contributions may to made to the Toledo Community Foundation for Pam's Fund, which supports the Paws and Whiskers no-kill cat shelter. Coyle Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.470, Pamela Denise “Pam” Howell-Beach