Ophelia E. Hollingshead

Ophelia Ensor Hollingshead (“Ophie”) passed away peacefully at home on February 13, 2024, at the age of 87. The cause was congestive heart failure. But for the hundreds of people who counted her as a true friend and beloved presence in their lives, they know this isn’t true. They know her heart never failed.

Ophie was born on February 29, 1936 to Leoinel and Ruth Ensor in Baltimore, Maryland, and was raised on the family’s dairy farm in Sparks, Maryland, together with her brother Kemp. Ophie and her family are part of a farming legacy that goes back many generations, with roots in Rural Retreat, Virginia. The farm in Sparks that Ophie grew up on is still being operated by her nephew, Ned Ensor.

Just like her mother Ruth, Ophie was a leap-year baby, and would tell you with twinkling eyes that at the end of this month she would be celebrating her 22nd birthday. Ophie was President of the first graduating class in 1954 at the newly constructed Hereford High School, and in 1958 graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a degree in Physical Education. Two weeks later, Ophie married her high school sweetheart, Richard (“Dick”) Hollingshead. Last June they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary, still very much in love. In 1963, Ophie and Dick built their family home on the edge of the family farm in Sparks, where they raised their daughter Beth. It was in this same home that Ophie passed away, with Dick at her side.

At a time when women didn’t always work outside the home, Ophie always did. Ophie spent her entire working life teaching, coaching and mentoring young women. After teaching at Parkville Middle School, in 1968 she began teaching physical education at St. Paul’s School for Girls in Brooklandville, Maryland, eventually becoming the Athletic Director. During her 27 years at St. Paul’s Ophie taught, coached and mentored many hundreds of young women in a variety of sports, including basketball, lacrosse, field hockey, archery, gymnastics, soccer and crew. She was the recipient of the Gold Pin Award, which honors the faculty member who contributes in an outstanding way to the school community, an inductee in the SPSG Hall of Fame as Coach, and the recipient of many other awards reflecting her years of dedication to the students in her care. For Ophie, perfecting skills on the court or field was important, but she knew it was really just a vehicle for something much bigger. Sports was an opportunity to build in every kid a sense of teamwork, character, sportsmanship and caring that hopefully stayed with them their entire lives. Winning mattered, but only if every member of the team got in the game. In 1995, St. Paul’s established the Ophelia Hollingshead Sportsmanship Award, which is awarded each year to the athlete who best exemplifies what Ophie was trying to instill in every one of her girls.

Since Ophie passed away the response from former students has been heartwarming and overwhelming:

“I absolutely loved her. She helped to shape so many of us.”

“She was able to make every girl feel seen and heard as well as letting us all know we were important.”

“Some of my fondest memories from SPSG are thanks to this amazing woman. She helped me find confidence both on and off the field.”

“I had asthma, and she always was so encouraging to me playing sports at SPSG.”

“She made me feel so seen and loved. As I ventured into high school and pursued singing and acting, she still championed me and stayed connected. She touched so many lives.”

“She was very special to me. She always believed in me and that meant so much.”

“She was an amazing person. I was an arts kid at SPSG and she figured out a way for me to meet my gym credit—she hiked up to the Boys’ school gym once a week with me and another girl and taught us how to lift weights! I still think of her often when I’m working out.”

“She took us in and was a ‘second mom’ to many.”

“She picked us up when we fell down.”

“I keep one of her voicemails on my phone from a few years back when I need a pick me up.”

Ophie’s favorite role, though, was matriarch of her family. Family was everything. Ophie and Dick’s daughter, Beth, married Douglas Furlong in 1986, and Ophie was eventually the proud grandmother of Katie (now Katie McCool), Bridget (now Bridget Queral), and Tommy, and then great-grandmother to Elle, Otto and Margot. For Beth, Doug and the kids, being at Ophie and Dick’s home was the centerpiece of all family events, with Ophie orchestrating everything, her world-famous rolls and sticky buns an essential staple. And as Ophie’s many nephews, nieces, cousins and their children can testify, “Aunt Ophie” was a constant, loving presence in their lives as well. If something important was happening Ophie wanted to know about it, and if help was needed, she wanted to help. She loved them all, and they loved her right back. Ophie was just a great lady, in the very best sense. Because there are not nearly enough people like her, she will be so badly missed and so warmly remembered.

The family will be receiving visitors on February 19th between 4:00 - 6:00 pm at Lemmon Funeral Home of Dulaney Valley, 10 W. Padonia Road, Timonium, Maryland 21093. Funeral services will be held on February 20, 2024 at 11:00 am at Bosley United Methodist Church, 14800 Thornton Mill Road, Sparks Maryland 21152.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be greatly appreciated to either the Historic Preservation fund at Bosley United Methodist Church, 14800 Thornton Mill Road, Sparks Maryland 21152 or to St. Paul’s School for Girls, 11232 Falls Road, Brooklandville Maryland 21093 to support the Ophelia Hollingshead Sportsmanship Award.