David Alan Holtz

A Remembrance

David Alan Holtz, FAIA Emeritus, age 94, born to Max and Essie Holtz in Brooklyn, New York on January 19, 1930, passed away on February 20, 2024. He died peacefully with his wife Marian by his side at his home in Potomac, Maryland.

David is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Marian, sons Brad (Barbara) Holtz, Ron Holtz (Marie Riccio), and Richard Goozh (Rebecca Winsor), daughters Cynthia (Christopher) Brown, Diane Astley (Randy Montoya), and Juliet (William) Holtzman, and a loving legacy of twelve grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren (with two great-grandchildren imminently on the way). He was preceded in death by his brothers, Laurie and Robert, and beloved four-legged companions Tuffy, Cristie, and Blossom. David will be deeply missed by all of us.

An exceptional career

David, in his own words, said he “always loved to work with his hands.” When he was graduating high school, he asked himself, “What am I going to do?” and answered his own question, “I’ll be an architect,” and that is what he did.

He began his work life as a schoolboy delivering newspapers and was a successful student at the esteemed Brooklyn Technical High School. He graduated from Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1953 with a Bachelor of Architecture, before two years of Army military service in South Carolina. He and his first wife, Joan Field, had the first of two sons, Brad, in 1955 while he served in the Army.

Following his military service, David studied landscape architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design under famed landscape architect Hideo Sasaki. He worked for Sasaki for two years before joining the architectural firm J.C. Cohen Architects (later Cohen and Haft) in 1956, and settling in Maryland, just outside of Washington DC., where his second son, Ron, was born in 1957. Over the course of 36 years at the firm which eventually bore his name, he became President of CHK (Cohen, Holtz & Kerxton) Architects and Planners, before moving on to join Loiederman Associates where he spent eight years as Director of Planning and Zoning.

A master site planner with unique expertise in land planning, site development design, and land rezoning he had an unparalleled reputation and was a highly respected figure in the regional and national architecture community. David was President of the Maryland Society of Architects and was elected to the National Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), representing the Middle Atlantic States. During his tenure there, he was Chairman of the Board of the Master Specification, playing a lead role in the success of MasterSpec, software for the architecture industry that is still in use today. As a director and President of the Potomac Valley Chapter of the AIA, he was a recipient of its Distinguished Service Award and served as a member of the Silver Spring Maryland Transportation System Management Advisory Committee.

During his career, he argued one hundred zoning cases, primarily in front of the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning commission, winning all but one. Considered a premier expert in land development and design by his clients, he was a prime driver in the acceptance and spread of planned development (PD) zoning.

His honors also include the AIA National Merit Award for Design and many commendations from the County Councils of Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, related to his work on zoning issues. In recognition of all his contributions to his profession, David’s peers elected him to the College of Fellows of the AIA.

Abundant Creativity

Much of David's life was filled with abundant creativity. Whether in architecture, land planning and landscape design, or creating with his own hands, David was an incredibly inventive and prolific creator. At six years old, he started to build model airplanes and model boats. In his college years, his creativity extended to landscape painting. David loved to design – homes, landscapes, interior design, furniture – and to make things with his hands – his gardens, landscapes, and furniture – and was also an avid photographer; his family members were always his favorite subjects.

David designed and built two distinctive homes, along with creating site plans for prominent Washington landmarks such as the Israeli Embassy, the JCC complex in Maryland, FedExField, home of the Washington Commanders, and National Harbor as well as residential housing throughout Montgomery, Prince George’s and Fairfax Counties.

Many passions

David's love for golf was legendary. When his game was at its peak, he was a five handicap. He consistently scored below his age in his 80s and 90s, scored nine strokes below his age as late as last year and was a proud and popular member of Washingtonian, Norbeck, and Bethesda country clubs. The golf course was his refuge and rejuvenation.

David was an avid bridge player, always in partnership with Marian. He regularly enjoyed swimming and was an accomplished skier. An automobile enthusiast, he loved all his cars and spent many happy hours pampering his current Mercedes or tweaking the finicky engine of his Porsche. He kept each car in pristine condition and even raced his Porsche at Sports Car Club of America track and rally events.

An avid reader, he was always making his way through a book. He loved the arts and enjoyed them wherever he found them; in museums, the art he and Marian brought into their homes, or in the concert hall. He had a passion for music, from listening to 1950’s jazz or classical music to playing classical piano throughout his life.

David loved fine foods and was quite skilled feeding all his family from his grill. He had many favorite foods in which he took great pleasure, although likely none of us will ever understand the hamburger-no bun-cottage cheese thing which he ordered frequently enough at the Woodside Deli across from his Silver Spring office that they put the Holtz Diet Platter on their menu.

A life filled with family

David’s personal life was full and rich. His marriage to Marian in 1978 was filled with enduring love and partnership. With Marian, he designed the Potomac house that they built and shared with their extended family for nearly 40 years and they worked together with famed woodworker George Nakashima to jointly design what would become “The Holtz Table” in Nakashima’s catalog. Adventurous and open travelers, they traveled the US, Europe, and Asia; among the first Americans to visit after the opening of China to the US in the 1970’s. Always open to their many friends and ever-expanding family, the pool, dinner table and living room of their New London Drive home was a gathering place for holidays and family milestones for generations of family.

We will remember his easy laugh, intelligence, and work ethic, his love of Oreos and the pleasure and pride he derived from all his nieces, nephews, daughters, sons, and their children.

Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by David’s passing; our adoring spouse, father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, colleague, and friend. We find solace in the memories of a life well-lived. His loss will be deeply felt by all those who were fortunate to know him.

A memorial service for immediate family will be held at Garden of Remembrance Memorial Park, 14321 Comus Road, Clarksburg, Maryland. Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, 11800 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, Maryland, is assisting with the arrangements.

The family will be observing shiva at David and Marian’s apartment in Potomac, Maryland on both Thursday, February 22nd and Sunday, February 25th, each day at 6pm with service at 7pm. They welcome relatives and friends to join them during this time to offer comfort and share memories.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made in David’s memory to a charity of your choice.