Peter A. Howland

Peter A. Howland, M.D.

Dr. Peter A. Howland, psychiatrist, of New York City, died peacefully on April 29, 2026, two weeks shy of his 90th birthday, surrounded by his wife and loving family after a courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Warm, generous, intellectually gifted, deeply compassionate, and with a wicked sense of humor, he was cherished by his family and by a wide circle of friends, colleagues, and patients.

Dr. Howland is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, two daughters, two brothers, several grandchildren and a large extended family.

He was born in Rochester, New York, the eldest of five children. His mother was a teacher, and his father worked in the employment division of Rochester Gas & Electric. Dr. Howland’s prodigious intellectual development began auspiciously in Rochester, where he started school as the youngest student in a one-room schoolhouse shared with seven other children.

He attended the University of Windsor in Ontario and later the McGill University School of Medicine in Montreal, where he formed lifelong friendships in what he regarded as a deeply formative and stimulating environment. He went on to New York City for an internship at St. Clare’s Hospital in Internal Medicine before completing his psychiatric residency at Montreal General Hospital and St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York.

In 1966, shortly after graduating from medical school, Dr. Howland joined the U.S. Army Medical Corps, serving as a Major at the U.S. Army General Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany. He worked first as a staff psychiatrist in the inpatient service and later with the Third Armored Division. During his military service, he presented research on “Adjustment Problems in Vietnam Returnees” at the U.S. Army-Europe Medical Conference.

While stationed in Europe, Dr. Howland traveled extensively, determined to educate himself in art history—a lifetime interest he pursued passionately and shared with his wife, a docent at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Upon returning to New York City, he established a private psychiatric practice and was later named chairman of the Psychiatric Department at St. Clare’s Hospital. He also served in numerous clinical appointments, including Bridgeway PACT in Elizabeth, New Jersey; the New Jersey Juvenile Detention Center; Essex County Detention Center; Bergen County Sheriff’s Detention Center; Hudson County Correctional Center; and Rockland Psychiatric Center, where he served as Associate Clinical Director of the Inpatient Service.

In addition to maintaining a large and diverse psychiatric practice, Dr. Howland sang bass for more than 40 years with the New York Oratorio Society and the Choir of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, under the direction of Kent Tritle, as well as with the Friendly Sons of Ireland. 

Dr. Howland lived a life graced with love, generosity, empathy, kindness, and insatiable curiosity. He found spiritual sustenance from the peace and beauty at his home in the mountains of Windham, New York.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025, or to the McGill University Faculty of Medicine, 845 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0G4, Canada.

Dr. Howland’s ashes will be placed in the columbarium at St. John the Divine where he can hear the music of his choir. Memorial services will be announced at a later date.

For Donations:

Cathedral of St. John Divine

https://www.stjohndivine.org/support/donate

McGill University Faculty of Medicine

https://www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-alumni/give-faculty/give-today