Howard Harding Brown of Westfield, N.J., West Palm Beach, Fla., and Edgartown, died Nov. 14. He was 98.

He was born on August 2, 1923 in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Frank J. Brown and Anne L. Brown. The family then lived on Gramercy Place in Manhattan before moving to New Jersey, where Harding attended Westfield High School.

He joined the Navy at the age of 19 and went to officer training school, becoming a lieutenant (junior grade). During World War II, he served in North Africa and Italy. After returning from the service, he graduated in the class of 1944 from Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. and then from NYU Law School. He practiced commercial real estate law in New Jersey for more than 50 years.

He married Roberta Cook Brown on April 29, 1949. Before long they had four children, whom they raised in Westfield where they themselves had been raised and where much of their extended family also lived.

In 1965, they bought a summer home in Edgartown. They were active members of the Edgartown Yacht Club, the Edgartown Golf Club and the Edgartown Reading Room. They later purchased a home at the Breakers West community in West Palm Beach. After Harding’s retirement, they sold their New Jersey home and split the year between Florida and the Vineyard.

Harding and Roberta traveled extensively throughout their marriage. Each trip abroad was punctuated with a stop in London, always a favorite, which provided occasions to attend Ascot, enjoy their membership at Crockford’s for dining and cards, the theatre, friendships and English hospitality.

They were blessed with five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Multigenerational summers on the Vineyard have been a highlight for the family, gathering year after year for relaxed time together at the family home with Harding at the helm.

Harding was predeceased by his wife Roberta in 2016. He is survived by his children Rande Brown of Manhattan; Aron Brown and his wife Kim of Bedford, N.H.; Robert Brown and Miriam Cohen of Morristown, N.J.; and Sharon Gamsby and Shepard Shove of West Tisbury; grandchildren Mohawk and Nemo Bolin, Jay and Amanda Brown, and Turner Brown; and great-grandchildren, Omen and Ziggy Bolin.

The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to his dedicated caregivers, Marie Jean-Francois, Natalie Jean-Francois and Najuscka Lapaix.

We may not see you, but you are with us. Much more than a memory, your love and care remains. We love you completely and will miss you always.