William James Holland

William James Holland, 80, of Arlington, Virginia passed away suddenly and peacefully of a heart attack on December 28, 2020 in his Arlington home. Bill was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania to the late Maurice J. and Margaret (Shenefelt) Holland. He graduated from Altoona High School in 1958, and served in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard until 1964. He is predeceased by his four brothers: Joseph, Thomas, John, and Daniel and two of his sisters: M. Louise and Jeanne Greiner. Survivors include his husband and life partner of 35 years Paul Pisano, his sister Nettie J. Holland of Hollidaysburg, PA, numerous nieces and nephews, and many in-laws.

Bill was the second youngest of eight brothers and sisters, and he was the fun uncle. Growing up, Bill and his brothers would trade in their car every 6 to 12 months, and he’ll be forever remembered for his LeMans blue Corvette Stingray. Regular Sunday visits to the Holland’s was always loud and raucous as the Holland’s were all hard of hearing. Bill used this to his advantage in later years – he’d wink and turn down his hearing aid when he wanted to tune out his siblings. About planning an extended Holland family reunion, Bill opined, “awww… it’d take a year to put it together and five years for everybody to get over it."

An accomplished sheet metal mechanic, Bill was a proud member of the Sheet Metal Workers International Association for 54 years. He took pride in work well done, whether it was specialized HVAC ducts, a lawn cleanly cut, or a perfectly aligned bird feeder. More importantly, Bill made the people involved in the work feel special and could make a cold, miserable work morning on an open deck at a construction site a little warmer with his laugh. Bill took the time to help others learn and grow, sometimes patiently and sometimes… not so much.

Bill loved to travel. His remarkable trip through Europe in the summer of 1966 on a 1965 Harley-Davidson Sportster was highlighted in The Harley Davidson Enthusiast magazine and he relished sharing that story with anyone who would listen. He brought the wonder of a child to trips to all 50 states and 30 countries, thrilled and delighted by new experiences. He often joined Paul in far off places in search of unusual birds or a flavorful beer.

Bill was always true to himself, and was an important touchstone and emotional anchor for many family members and friends. There was never any pretense with Bill – he was completely genuine no matter the company, the situation or the circumstances. Bill’s kindness deeply touched many lives. He was a joy to have at family gatherings - a calm quiet presence, leaning in to hear with an earnest furrowed brow.

Bill’s reading interests ranged from punk poets to riveting thrillers to current social narratives. He was full of recommendations on what to read next, often generously offering the book along with the recommendation. He was a fervent Washington Nationals fan, frequently going to live games and events.

Volunteering at his parish, Our Lady Queen of Peace (OLQP) and spending time with fellow parishioners, staff and friends was an important part of Bill’s life. He freely gave of himself to ensure that others had what they needed, and found satisfaction, joy and laughter in his volunteer work. Bill’s OLQP volunteering began in the Food Pantry, where he helped make packages to feed families. He made friends while working in the parish office, counting weekly mass offerings and chatting it up with staff. We remember him for his kind and gentle nature, wry sense of humor, and generosity of spirit that endeared him to so many.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at OLQP on Saturday, January 9, at 11am. The Mass will be closed to the public, and accessible via live-stream on the church’s https://www.facebook.com/OLQPArlington. Memorial donations to the OLQP Food Pantry (https://membership.faithdirect.net/givenow/VA271/12857) would be appreciated.