Howie Bernstein passed away peacefully on September 21, 2024 at Avista Senior Living North Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona. Born on February 17, 1943, in Binghamton, NY, he was a renowned artist and a cherished member of the Phoenix arts community. Howie also gave back to the community through his art mentorship at the Boys & Girls Clubs, and collaboration with his wife Joan Eidinger to advocate for racing greyhounds.
Howie’s educational journey began at Binghamton Central High School and later, he honed his artistic skills at the School of Visual Arts. His career was distinguished by his passion for creating visually compelling environments and his significant contributions to the art world.
He was a freelance illustrator and the original artist for ESP-Disk. He designed record album covers for the Yardbirds and Deborah Harry’s original band, The Wind in the Willows. His illustrations were published by Random House, Doubleday, Herald Tribune, Billboard, and others, including full-page ads for The Who’s “Magic Bus.” He also designed album covers for MGM, Capitol, RCA, DECCA, and Verve Folkways, and worked on commissioned projects for Tho-Fra, Inc., a San Francisco-based poster distributor.
Howie was devoted to his wife Joan Eidinger, and they spent more than 50 years together. In their early years, they traveled the U.S. in their panel van “Big Bertha” from Alaska to Mexico and from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon. The couple ended up in Arizona, where they fell in love with the Sonoran Desert. In 1992, Joan was profoundly moved by the slaughter of 143 racing greyhounds in Chandler and dedicated the next 15 years of her life to protecting greyhounds in the racing industry through the publication of Greyhound Network News. Howie helped and supported Joan’s efforts which were instrumental in providing more humane treatment of greyhounds and eventually ending dog racing in several states, including Arizona.
From 1973 to 1980, Howie was a partner in Art Force, an art service company known for its super-graphics and murals across commercial and residential interiors. His work during this period left a lasting impact on various establishments including Westcor, Motorola, and several hospitals.
His artistic journey continued as he became a partner in Clear Light Glass Studios, where he specialized in carved glass design for both residential and commercial interiors. His remarkable glass installations can be seen in prestigious locations such as the Arizona Biltmore and Barrow Neurological Institute.
Howie’s work was highlighted in many publications, including Phoenix Home and Garden’s “Masters of the Southwest,” and he received several awards. His art was exhibited in numerous fine arts galleries, including Suzanne Brown, Main Trails, Earthworks, and Watersong Galleries in Scottsdale, and Rosensteel Galleries. His art was also exhibited in a one-man show at Lindsey Galleries in New York.
In addition to his artistic endeavors, Howie dedicated his time to nurturing young artists as an Artist-in-Residence at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix. He also conducted workshops at Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Juvenile Detention and Adobe Mountain Detention for Young Women. He served on the Phoenix Arts Commission from 1995 to 2002 and was a respected member of the Arizona Commission on the Arts Artist Roster.
Howie was preceded in death by his beloved wife and soulmate Joan Eidinger, his parents, Laura and Sam Bernstein, and several beloved greyhounds. He is survived by his brother Bob Bernstein (“Buttons”), sister Ronnie Davidson, niece Heather Rafter, nephews Harley Dembert and Charlie Trantanella (Valerie), sister-in-law Sheilagh Coyne Trantanella, and his dear friends Sylvia Arena and Karen Michael.
Special thanks go to the amazing medical staff members and caregivers at Avista Senior Living North Mountain and Avista Hospice for their excellent and compassionate care of Howie, whom he considered his extended family. Memorial contributions can be made to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley or the Animal Defense League of Arizona,
Howie is deeply missed, but his commitment lives on in the many people and animals he helped throughout his life. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "To leave the world a bit better... to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
Read Howie's obituary in the Arizona Republic Newspaper