Such sad news that our dear classmate, Tom Holder, passed away. He was the sweetest and always had that beaming smile.
Thomas N. Holder
October 5, 1947 – April 2, 2015
So many things could be said of Thomas N. Holder of Lake Oswego, OR, suddenly stricken by cancer at the age of 67. However, a few things are worth noting in his remembrance.
First, Tom was a gentleman by upbringing, with an intelligent, fair and gracious nature. His mother impressed upon him a Southern gentility, warm sense of humor and good manners – all of which made him “really good with old ladies,” and tempered his passion when voicing opinions on local civic and education issues.
Devotion to his family and Becky, his wife of 45 years, was the second pillar of Tom’s life. Few peas in a pod were less likely than petite Becky and towering Tom. But from a poolside meeting between the handsome lifeguard home from college and the teen ingénue, Tom was inseparable from his lifelong muse. Through countless good times and a few deeply tragic ones, Tom was by Becky’s side. He deeply loved being a father to Luke, and later to Rin, who became a daughter not only in spirit, but in name.
Volunteering and citizenship were a third distinguishing aspect of Tom’s life, especially his investment of time and resources to math and technology initiatives at Lake Oswego schools. He also volunteered for Respid Care.
Last, Tom had re-awakened his spiritual life. As with most things Tom did, he was all-in. He began finding his spiritual path with daily commitments to meditation, yoga and the Sunrise At The Firehouse AA group. Recently Tom renewed his sacraments in the Catholic Church. Faith had taken on greater meaning for Tom, and in his last days, provided unfathomable comfort.
Tom Holder was born in Houston, Texas to J.A. and Lorene Nelson Holder. An outstanding student and swimmer, he was awarded a scholarship to the Texas A&M, where he earned Bachelor’s degrees in math and electrical engineering, and a Master’s in computer science. He served in ROTC and U.S. Army National Guard, training as a paratrooper.
In 1969 Tom and Becky married, and set out to bring their passion for Texas cooking and low- down Texas Country music to San Francisco, where they lived for 18 years, first as carefree, successful professionals, then with Luke’s arrival in 1987, as doting parents. Tom had a successful career in technology, while Becky was a rising star of the Bay Area ad agency scene. He and Becky wisely managed their earnings and savings, and were able to retire comfortably in their 40’s.
In 1995, the family followed their star north, to schools and suburban life in Lake Oswego, OR. There, Tom dove deeply into volunteering and home, and was freed to dedicate more time to community and family, and showering Becky with sweet thoughts and gifts large and small.
Tom is survived Rebecca A. Holder; daughter Rin Holder; sister and brother in law Shirley and Jack Patton; and brothers and sisters in law Rusty and Linda Reichle, and Randy and Terry Reichle. Tom was tragically predeceased by beloved son Lucas Holder. The family is most grateful to the love and care of the Legacy Emanuel trauma ICU staff, and the wonderful palliative team of Emanuel and Hopewell House. Date and time of services at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church will be announced on the Caring Bridge website.
Update for memory event and service from Bradley Seals - 4/16
There will be an event in memory of Tommy Holder at Reichle Ranch 3288 FM 109 Columbus Texas on April 25 from 1-5 P.M. There will be fishing so bring your fishing gear if interested. Minnows will be provided. Tommy's wife Becky will be there. RSVP to LReichle@comcast.net
The memorial service in Portland Oregon will be held on May 18 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church 650A Avenue, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034 at 11:00 a.m.
For other information check the CaringBridge website. You can enter Thomas Holder in the upper right where it says Persons Name.
Our sweet and beloved Tom passed away this morning at 12:30 AM from Metastatic Melanoma Brain Cancer at the beautiful Hopewell Hospice Home. Please know that at this time we are requesting no visitors. We are planning a service for several weeks from now and will let you know via the Caring Bridge website. Becky, Rin, Luke, and all the Reichle family so appreciate all the love,prayers that have helped them though this very difficult journey. Tom's family, friends, and faith were his core. At the end the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi was what brought him the most post. The prayer is below.
The Prayer of Saint Francis Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console, To be understood as to understand, To be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.
Attributed to Francis Bernadone, perhaps the most universally loved of Christian saints, who was born in Assisi, Italy, in 1181 or 1182. At the age of twenty-two, after a sudden illness that brought him almost to the point of death, he left his home and inheritance to follow an injunction that he felt he received from Christ himself: "Francis, go and rebuild my Church." Three great Franciscan orders quickly grew around the monks, nuns, and lay disciples who responded to his joyful example of universal love and selfless service.
Here is a song that was sung at Becky and Tom's wedding in which Tom surprised Becky and the words are so dear to Tom and Becky's heart:
We are One in the Spirit
We are one in the Spirit. We are one in the Lord. We are one in the Spirit. We are one in the Lord, and we pray that all unity may one day be restored.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.
Yes they will know we are Christians by our Love.
We will walk with each other. We will walk hand in hand. We will walk with each other. We will walk hand in hand.
We will walk hand in hand. And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land.
Thank you all for all of your kind works and letters. Please feel free to email me at LindaBMarshall@aol.com and I will have printed out all letters,or mail letters to Becky at 481 Iron Mountain Blvd,Lake Oswego OR 97034
We will post you the date of Tom's service and Celebration of Life. We will be having the service at Our Lady of Lake Church in Lake Oswego sometime in May and will keep you posted on details through Caring Bridge. If you know of anyone who would like to added to the meal train or caringbridge, please email me at LindaBMarshall@aol.com.
The Holder and Reichle family feel all of your love and prayers and please be thankful for your friends and family. Love, Linda
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