William Stanley Holden, 79, of Holland, formerly of Naperville, Illinois passed away quietly at his home on Lake Macatawa from complications of multiple myeloma on April 3, 2024. Bill was born on March 13, 1945, to John T. and Louise B. Holden (Stanley)in Boston, Mass. He graduated from the Northfield Mount Hermon School in Mass. received a BA from Oberlin College, and attended two years of medical school at Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia. He spent his career as a National Account Manager (Additives) for the Lubrizol Corp, a worldwide diversified chemical co. He met Terri (Pelle), his wife of 50 years, in Philadelphia, and together they built a lifelong partnership of support and love.
Bill is survived by his two brothers, Pete B. Holden (Brookings, Oregon) and David M. Holden (Wolfeboro, NH), and the Boyd and Engman families. Cousins Jane (Glenn) Bowles, Hudson, NH, and Louise (Ernest) Borden, Madison, WI.
Bill loved the outdoors, especially being on the water, growing up sailing and racing at an early age. He was an avid hiker and served as a waterfront director teaching swimming to inner-city kids during summers off from college. He hiked and camped the Great Smokie Mountains, the Appalachian Trail, and canoed/hiked in the Superior Quetico Wilderness in Canada (Terri was on that adventure). Before he had a means of transportation he owned his first sailboat. Later a car was purchased to get to the sailboat at the marina.
Bill enjoyed taking family and friends boating, thus he was given the name “Captain Bill” by our dear friend, David. The “title” took hold and he was forever “Captain Bill” to David’s family of children, and grandchildren! Bill was an expert seaman tending to lean a tad bit more towards furling a sail on his 33 ft. Pearson Vanguard, StarCrest, rather than powering our 17-foot Boston Whaler around Lake Macatawa. Let it be known that no matter the MPH of the wind when on the sailboat you use your sails, not the engine…no matter how long it takes to reach your destination!
Farewell, Captain Bill……………Some Time at Eve………………
Some time at eve when the tide is low, I shall slip my mooring and sail away, With no response to the friendly hail of kindred craft in the busy bay…. In the silent hush of the twilight pale, When the night stoops down to embrace the day, and the voices call in the waters’ flow—Some time at eve when the tide is low, I shall slip my mooring and sail away. Through the purpling shadows that darkly trail O’er the ebbing tide of the Unknown Sea, I shall fare me away, with a dip of sail and a ripple of waters to tell the tale of a lonely voyager, sailing away to the Mystic Isles where at anchor lay… The crafts of those who have sailed before… O’er the Unknown Sea to the Unseen Shore. A few who have watched me sail away Will miss my craft from the busy bay; Some friendly barks that were anchored near, some loving souls that my heart held dear, in silent sorrow will drop a tear—- But I shall have peacefully furled my sail in moorings sheltered from storm or gale, and greeted the friends who have sailed before… O’er the Unknown Sea to the Unseen Shore. (Elizabeth Clark Hardy)
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