Peter P. Holland, Jr ’54

Peter P. Holland, Jr., Lincolnshire, IL, die August 6, 2024.

Born in New York City, Peter had a sales career centered on personal relationships, valuing others, and fellowship. After graduating from Saint Luke’s High School in Hohokus, NJ, Peter set off for Saint Michael’s. Drafted after three years of higher education at the College, Peter served his country in the Army during the Korean War.

Upon returning home, Peter completed his bachelor’s degree at Saint Michael’s, much to the relief of his parents. After graduation, Peter started a decades-long career in sales with Union Camp Corporation (later International Paper) in New York City where he met and married Evelyn, a Brooklyn girl through and through, and with whom he moved in 1967 to Northbrook, IL, where they raised their three children.

Retiring after 40 years, Peter embarked on his second career working at the public golf course for the Northbrook Park District, a job that fortuitously aligned Peter’s dedication to hard work with his favorite hobby.

In addition to family and friendship, Peter loved conversation, dining, and anything that put him with others where he could listen to their stories and share some of his. He always went out of his way to make people feel welcome, valued, and honored. As his family wrote in Peter’s obituary, “We wish we could contact every waiter, bartender, hotel clerk, rental car agent, flight attendant not to mention all of his family and friends whose days were made brighter through his hearty handshake, welcoming smile and generosity.”

He was a President’s Medallion supporter of the College.

Peter’s wife of 56 years, Evelyn (Garey), died in 2021. He is survived by a son, two daughters, a brother, a sister and extended family.