Linda Gordon Howard, longtime Landmark Graduate, Seminar Leader, and Staff Member who served as General Counsel and Vice President for Legal at Landmark Worldwide, passed away peacefully on September 15th, 2023.
Born in Ettrick, Virginia, in 1949, Linda was a trailblazer from an early age. She was the first Black and first female student to serve as the Student Council President at the University of Virginia Law School and a legislative assistant in the United States Senate.
As a child of educators, Linda’s passion for law and justice was deeply ingrained. As a Landmark Program Leader and Staff Member, Linda’s love of people and making a difference was extraordinary.
Before coming to Landmark, Linda served in various high-profile roles, including as Staff Attorney at the Urban Mass Transportation Administration and Counsel to the President of Hunter College. She was a tenured professor at Ohio State University Law School. She also served as Acting Executive Director, Interdepartmental Task Force on Women at the White House.
Her life and career were covered in an article published by the University of Virginia Law School
Linda had a passionate commitment to inclusion and ethical conduct. Her advocacy work for the rights of disabled citizens and her pioneering book, “The Sexual Harassment Handbook,” have left an indelible impact.
In 2019 she gave the commencement address at the University of Virginia Law School.
The only thing that may have matched her extraordinary list of professional accomplishments, was her sense of humor, infectious laugh, and love of a good story.
She leaves behind a loving family, and legions of friends and mentees whose lives have been profoundly impacted by her wisdom and kindness.
We join everyone who had the privilege of knowing her in celebrating a life well lived.
25 comments
Linda was a beautiful being with a heart of gold. I learned so much from her. It was a privilege to work with her and know her…she is forever in my heart. RIP Linda ??
Linda was an amazing woman and a bold stand for people and justice and fairness. I love and admire her and she will be missed. Go with grace, Linda!
Rest in peace, Linda
It was fun assisting during your training seminar and most good assisting in your 2007 seminar.
Fly and dance with angels. Have fun.
God bless your friends and family during this times. Thank you ?? for your servant leadership and the gift that’s your life has been to others. Take your rest, you deserve it….
There was no one quite like Linda Howard…whose name was always one word! Certainly, a distinction. Linda was an incredibly accomplished woman’s with a remarkable sense of humor. I will love and honor Linda and all she gave to me and so many… forever. I love you my dearest “Wickie!”
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Very sorry to hear of Linda’s passing. I did the ILP 25 years ago and Linda often led the Friday night classrooms. Powerful, I felt lucky each time she contacted me over the years. She was amazing.
Linda was the epitome of Seminar Leader. She was an amazing coach and remarkable stand for our work and what’s possible. Every time I interacted with her I felt like she was talking straight to my soul. She was a woman of great accomplishment and incredible contribution to so many. Her legacy will live on through all she impacted. Linda, you were a blessing and beautiful soul! I honor you and celebrate your life!
Linda has been on my heart for the past week. I am so grateful for her standing for me to be seminar leader and inspire me in my integrity. She made a difference for me. She is a difference in my life forever.
I live in Portland, and Linda had a special connection here as a graduate of Reed College and member of Reed’s board of directors. For me, she was an inspired force, larger than life, and when she spoke everything else other than her voice seemed to go quiet. Though I only knew her briefly, those brief moments had a profound impact. ❤️ my condolences and heart for all those who were privileged to know Linda.
My memory is watching one of my nerdy friends breakthrough and become this outrageous, unbelievably devoted husband and father out of Linda’s Landmark Forum in Action Seminar.
Thank you Linda. You made a difference for so many.
A loss for of another great being. I never forget sitting in her seminar listening to her powerful story and learning from her how to dismantle an upset. It lives with me until this day. May her spirit rest in knowing she touched the world in so many ways that her teachings live on in the people she reached. RIP Queen
A phenomenal woman and always would talk you up – inspiring. The world has lost a truly awesome person. We would speak on the phone talking about what inspired us. Linda, it’s your time to be with the biggest inspiration – your creator. Keep showing that bright smile up there. Rest in peace.
Linda you will forever be in my heart. Thank you for being an inspiration, motivation, friend and buddy. On our buddy calls, you always brought impeccability and an impenetrable wall of integrity ensuring we distinguished the distinctions as Werner would have intended. As a fellow seminar leader, your stand for integrity and the distinctions will forever be remembered and brought to the lives of the graduates. Our family will miss you dearly. My condolences and my heart goes out to Linda’s family, friends and all the people who were privileged to know her.
Linda, I miss your bright light, your infectious laughter, your direct insights. A candle in our world has dimmed and our memories of you will keep your flame alive. Love you!
Linda was a caring, delightful, woman committed to transformation and to a world that works for everyone. Her love of people and dedication to the law and the structure it provides as guidance for the world will be missed more than she could ever imagine.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to have known Linda and be contributed to by her. An amazing human.
one of the past highlights of any visit to Landmark WHQ was a visit with Linda. She was always delightful and gracious, and someone who made me feel welcome and appreciated. I knew her also as a person of great distinction and I was blessed to have known her.
Linda’s joyous spirit and infectious laugh has made a difference with hundreds of thousands of lives. Here is to a life well lived.
God bless you Linda Howard! It was a privilege to be in your presence.
I am so sad to hear of Linda’s passing. What a shock. She and I always had so much fun together. She often talked about the children she was so close to in her family! Rest in Peace, my friend.
Linda Howard is the reason I am an Introduction Leader. I had completed the Introduction Leaders Program once before. I was in the San Francisco Center assisting. I had been there all weekend as Course Leader Support for David Cunningham and another Forum leader. Linda had come in to share about the seminar she would be leading, and I was in awe! I told her when I grow up, I want to be just like you! Linda response was, “Are you an Introduction Leader”? I said, “no.” She said, “Put yourself in the program.” I said, “No, I have been here all weekend and the program begins next weekend. I will NOT give up 2 of my weekends!” She said, ” Why, it’s just a weekend.”? Lol, not back then it wasn’t. It was my days to chill out. Anyway, I said, “Cause I don’t FEEL like it.” Now, mind you, I had been speaking to Linda for about 2 hours of her going around and around with me and me saying throughout our conversation, “I don’t FEEL like it!”
Linda politely looked at me and said very calmly and so smoothly, “How many times do your FEELINGS stop you from creating a life you love.” I looked at her in disbelief because I hadn’t ever thought about life to that degree! Linda kept her promise and she hugged me and left. I went into the office, got an application, and had my butt in my ILP weekend the next weekend and I became an Introduction Leader!
Thank you Linda. ❤️??♥️
Linda Howard is the reason I am an Introduction Leader. I had completed the Introduction Leaders Program once before but did not meet all the requirements to become one. About a year later, I was in the San Francisco Center assisting. I had been there all weekend as Course Leader Support for David Cunningham and another Forum leader. Linda had come in to share about the seminar she would be leading, and I was in awe! I told her when I grow up, I want to be just like you! Linda response was, “Are you an Introduction Leader”? I said, “no.” She said, “Put yourself in the program.” I said, “No, I have been here all weekend and the program begins next weekend. I will NOT give up 2 of my weekends!” She said, ” Why, it’s just a weekend.”? Lol, not back then it wasn’t. It was my days to chill out! Anyway, I said, “Cause I don’t FEEL like it.” Now, mind you, I had been speaking to Linda for about 2 hours of her going around and around with me, and me saying throughout our conversation, “I don’t FEEL like it!”
Linda politely looked at me and said very calmly and so smoothly, “How many times do your FEELINGS stop you from creating a life you love.” I looked at her in disbelief because I hadn’t ever thought about life to that degree! Linda kept her promise and she hugged me and left. I went into the office, got an application, and had my butt in my ILP weekend the next weekend, and I became an Introduction Leader!
Thank you Linda. ❤️??♥️
Wow, Linda. Thank you for everything you did and did not do. Every which way you were and weren’t. For making the difference that makes the difference. For transforming the being of human beings. Thank you for changing the world.
What an amazing extraordinary and remarkable human being. Linda was such an example of living your life fully and making a difference with what ya got. I can hear her legacy living on through us!
Linda,always held a special place in my heart. She radiated positivity. She listened intently, and I remember her telling me that people won’t listen to what you have to say until they’ve been heard. I remember participating in her “Being Extraordinary” seminar. That was Linda, extraordinary. Love you and miss you lady. You’ll be missed by all of us.
I just loved Linda. She was so smart, humble and had a big heart. Although we spent a lot of time together as seminar leaders, one of my fondest memories was the evening I took her to the Metropolitan Opera and how excited she was to hear this beautiful music with me and 3,000 others – sharing the experience together. That’s just how she was about life.