Page created by: Jennifer Holden

William Pollard (Bill) Holden, 74, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2021 at Novant Hospice after a battle with Parkinson’s Disease for over 20 years. Bill was born on July 11, 1946 in Pittsburgh, PA to the late Thomas Pollard Holden and Marigrace Halen Holden.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Terrence Holden and granddaughter, Dagen Ruth Holden.

He is survived by his children, David and Jennifer (Hager) Holden of Davidson, NC and Jeff Holden and Maggie Gardner of Ithaca, NY. He was the adored “Grangee” to his granddaughters, Maryn and Halen Holden and “Grandpa Bill” to his grandchildren Augie and Willa Holden. He is survived by his siblings and their families, Lynne (Holden) and Pete Pace of Cornelius, NC, Bob Holden of Myrtle Beach, SC, Tom and Joan Holden of Sykesville, MD and Tracey (Holden) and Hal Saxby of Columbia, SC, and his ex-wife Janice Scanlon Holden of Ayer, MA and her entire family. Bill was a proud father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.

In 1964, he graduated from Howard County High School in Columbia, MD where he played football, and later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Transportation Management from the University of Maryland College Park. After graduating, he joined the Department of Transportation, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) where he worked in program management, on programs such as the Vince and Larry seatbelt campaign to get drivers to use seatbelts regularly, on campaigns to educate drivers about the dangers of drunken and impaired driving, and where he worked with states to raise standards for drivers license issuing to ensure standardized identification and motor vehicle operating standards across the country. Bill was the presented the Superior Achievement Award, Distinguished Career Service Award and the Exceptional Service Award from the Department of Transportation and also received the Distinguished Public Service Award from the United States Coast Guard for his work on the National Driver Register programs. He retired in 2001 due to the onset of Parkinson’s Disease.

Bill was extremely athletic before Parkinson’s prevented his body from doing the things he loved. He loved playing tennis, racquetball, and golf. He enjoyed watching all sports and was an avid New England Patriots and University of Maryland Terrapins fan. He loved telling corny jokes, often the same ones over and over. He was teased by his granddaughters that his food pyramid was made up of steak and sweets. Bill loved reading and listening to the Beach Boys and other Soda Shop classics. He was a history buff, and the proud fountain of useless information. He loved playing games with family and friends, especially Domino’s and Trivial Pursuit.

Thank you for your donation and tribute in memory of Bill. We pray that one day a cure will be found and that no one has to be held captive to the chains of this cruel disease. In memory of Bill, make a stranger smile - tell them a corny joke or buy them a vanilla milkshake!

With love,
His Family