Arthur D. Holben, 92, died September 24, 2022 at Ginger Cove, his home since moving to Annapolis from Syracuse, NY in 2017. He was surrounded by his three daughters, who are grateful for the care and support provided by the Ginger Cove staff during medical challenges in his last few years.
Art was born in Anchorage, Alaska November 13, 1929, the youngest of three children. After his mother died when he was 4 months old, he and his siblings were sent from their home in Seward, Alaska to Seattle, WA to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins. After graduating from Garfield H.S. in 1947, he earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington while serving in the Marines Corps reserves.
As part of his early professional career in the 4-year training program at General Electric, he attended the Harvard Business School, where he entered the MBA program in 1953. After completing 1 year of the program, he was called back to GE’s Hanford nuclear plant in Washington, never being able to finish the MBA. He was then transferred to Syracuse, NY where he met his future wife, Laurel Havens. They married in 1955 and lived in Philadelphia, Auburn, and Syracuse. In 1962, they moved to Cortland, NY where they raised their family. He became the executive head of engineering for Smith Corona, followed by the Singer Company and Colt Industries. They moved back to Syracuse while their daughters were in college.
While a young man, Art worked on his uncle’s fishing boats in Alaska and the Bering Sea, surveyed glaciers, and was passionate about mountain climbing and skiing, some in remote areas. While in college, he was part of the first ascent team on Prusik Peak in Washington state and was an original member of the Juneau Ice Field Research Project, studying and living on remote glaciers. He remained an accomplished skier and cyclist, participating in senior races, and took up golf after retirement. He even bought himself a new pair of skis at age 86!
For many years after retirement, he put his executive experience to great use as President of the Syracuse chapter of SCORE, mentoring small business owners. He enjoyed playing bridge, reading, theatre, and listening to classical and jazz music. He also loved his Syracuse University sports teams. Every Christmas season, he made large batches of krumkake, traditional treats that his family loved, reflecting his Norwegian heritage.
Art is predeceased by his wife Laurel and survived by his three daughters, Sally VanZandt (Peter), Kim Bowman (Reid), and Sigrid Holben. Art is also survived by five grandsons Mitchell and Kyle VanZandt, Chris and Will Bowman, and Jackson Wehrle. He was also blessed to be survived by two great grandchildren, Ruth and Wesley VanZandt.
A celebration of Art’s life is being planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, with a comment “In Memory of Art Holben”. https://summergarden.com/support-asgt/donate/. Online condolences and memories may be posted at www.johnmtaylorfuneralhome.com
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