Mary Holleman grew up in Westfield, New Jersey, and spent summers on the shores of Barnegat Bay in the town of Ocean Gate. 

Mary loved being near the water and especially the competition of sailing sneakbox sailboats. Sneakbox sailboats are indigenous to the area and were perfected in the mid-1850s for crabbing and fishing on the bay. Mary was the Sneakbox Sailing Champion of the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association in 1954 and 1955.

Before going to college, Mary volunteered at a nearby children’s home and became very interested in physical therapy.

Mary met her husband Paul in Boston when he was in law school at Harvard and she was getting a degree in physical therapy at Simmons College. After graduation, Paul accepted a position at Holme, Roberts and Owen in Denver and they spent their honeymoon driving across country to start a new life in Colorado.

Mary and Paul had three children, all of whom graduated from Manual High School: Martha, who was a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal and now works as a social policy analyst in Baltimore; Fritz, a lawyer specializing in water rights, now living in Boulder; and Andy, also an attorney, who died unexpectedly in his 40s, leaving behind a young family.  

In the 60s and 70s, Mary and Paul were busy with children, summer and winter activities, multiple sports teams, family trips and being involved with Denver Public Schools and the integration issues of the time. Mary worked part- time at St. Luke’s and National Jewish hospitals with a wide age range of patients and volunteered at the children’s schools. 

Mary and Paul took many trips abroad over the years and took the children with them on occasion. They had a grand time. Mary enjoyed the Denver Symphony and the DCPA. She volunteered as a docent at the Denver Public Library. When the children were grown, she joined an Outward Bound women’s group to hike in Nepal. 

While raising their family, Mary and Paul were members of the Central Christian church in Denver. Mary had always admired the leadership and preaching at Montview and began attending services in 2015. In 2019, when Andy died, pastors Ian and Clover were especially helpful in comforting the family organizing a memorial service.

A few years ago, Mary moved to an apartment in one of Brookdale’s senior residences. She enjoys reading, attending her book group, participating in the lectures and events in the building, playing bridge, and spending time with her family and friends. 

Mary feels blessed to be celebrating her 90^th birthday and is grateful to the Montview community.

– Submitted by Brooke Durland, along with Martha and Mary Holleman