Daniel Howard, 50, the manager of Mr. Bagel in Scarborough, died of a heart attack at his home last Thursday.

Originally from Endicott, N.Y., Howard moved to Maine eight years ago and lived in Old Orchard Beach. “He just loved the lifestyle here,” said Dawn Doiron, the owner of Mr. Bagel.

Together Doiron and Howard ran both Mr. Bagel and the catering side of the business. “He loved Mr. Bagel,” said Doiron. “He took it over a few years ago. It was a job I hated and a job he loved.”

Doiron remembers the friendly, upbeat feeling Howard always brought to work. When Howard was around, he always had a smile for everyone who came in.

“He was passionate about his work, his friends and his family,” she said. “He was my partner and friend.”

Eric Gammon often worked with Howard in the kitchen and on catering jobs. He recalled how he always had a bit of music trivia ready to share. Howard loved music and any kind of comedy, said Gammon.

He, too, remembers Howard as someone who worked hard but was always friendly and kind.

“He really enjoyed the business,” Gammon said.

Howard’s son, Ryan Howard, had just graduated from a college in New York, said Doiron. Howard also had a daughter, Sara Howard; step-mother Virginia Howard; four sisters, Geralynn Howard, Susan Dixon, Alicia Thoennes and Meridith Jackson as well as nephews Michael and Matthew Dixon and Christopher Thoennes.

“He was a very friendly face,” said Doiron. “He was a good friend and a great brother.”