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The Fortin Group

217 Turner Street, Auburn, ME

OBITUARY

Dr. Kenneth G. Holt

November 21, 1928 – December 6, 2014

AUBURN: Dr. Kenneth George Holt, 86, formerly of Boston, MA and Hartford, ME passed away peacefully Saturday morning at Clover Health Care in Auburn after residing at Schooner Estates for several months. He was born in Livermore Falls on November 21, 1928 a son of the late H. Paul and Lorraine (Hudson) Holt. Kenneth graduated as Salutatorian from Livermore Falls High School in 1947. He then graduated from Bates College in Lewiston with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1951. Upon completion of his education at Bates College, he enlisted in the Marine Corps where he served in active duty until 1953, where there upon he served in the Marine Reserve Corps until his Honorable Discharge in 1959. He also taught school in Manchester, CT receiving his permanent teacher’s certificate in 1957. He received his Masters Degree in Education in 1957 from the University of Connecticut. In 1978 he received his Degree of Doctor of Education from the Graduate School of Boston College. He was most proud of this achievement. He began his teaching career in Manchester, CT. In the school year of 1962 to 1963 he was an exchange teacher in the United Kingdom as part of the Anglo-United States Interchange of Teachers Program in Hertfordshire County. During this period he traveled extensively throughout Europe enjoying the culture, art and history. He taught secondary social studies and history at Needham High School for most of his career, retiring in 1993, where he was beloved by his students who would always check to see what he was wearing for cuff links. To continue his dedication to education and students he became a member of the Mentoring Program at Regis College. Kenneth was always impeccably dressed. He enjoyed Boston and taking the “T” into the city to enjoy the symphony, a play or ballet. In 1969 he purchased a cottage on Bear Pond in Hartford, ME where he would “summer” for the rest of his life. It was here that he found solitude and rest by enjoying the view of the pond from his front porch. For many years he was a pond monitor for the Bear Pond Improvement Association to which he was extremely dedicated, retiring from the annual loon count in 2011. He is survived by several nieces, nephews and extended family throughout the country. He was predeceased by his sisters, Vivian Holt, Evelyn Cormier, and Beverly Hammons as well as his brothers Harry and Paul, Jr. You are invited to share your thoughts, condolences and fond memories of Kenneth through his guestbook at www.thefortingroupauburn.com FUNERAL NOTICE: HOLT---Dr. Kenneth G., age 86, formerly of Boston, MA and Hartford, ME died Saturday December 6, 2014 at Clover Health Care in Auburn. Visitation will be held at Fortin\Auburn on Sunday Dec. 21 from 10-11am followed by a Celebration of his life at 11am also at the funeral home. Interment will take place at Pleasant View Cemetery in Livermore Falls in the spring. Those wishing, in lieu of flowers, may make a charitable contribution in Ken's memory to: Bear Pond Improvement Association PO Box 4 North Turner, ME 04266. Arrangements are under the care of The Fortin Group \ Plummer & Merrill Funeral Home, Cremation and Monument Services 217 Turner St. Auburn, 783-8545.

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Services

  • Visitation

    Sunday, December 21, 2014

  • Celebration of Life

    Sunday, December 21, 2014

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Memories

Dr. Kenneth G. Holt

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Patty Schlossberg

May 2, 2015

I was one of the many students at Needham High who were lucky and blessed to have him for my Psyche-Soc. Class. This gentleman of a teacher took special interest in all his students and some how managed to show that he sincerely cared about each and every one of us. His class was one of a small handful of classes I actually enjoyed going to because he conducted his class with alot of humor and treated all of us as equals. He wasn't afraid to put the class wise-crackers in their place, albeit gently and humorously, Never sarcastically. One of the assignments he had given us at the beginning of the school year was to write of an early memory that still affects us today (or then) and I put my heart and soul into it, and he not only gave me a good grade on it, he took me aside and hugged me and told me that no matter how low my esteem was, it is not a reflection of who I was or how the rest of the world sorry me, and that I was a fantastic person. He said he was very much affected by what I wrote and wanted to let me know if I ever needed to talk to someone about Anything, he would be happy to do so with me. He was that loving, he was that caring and very funny as well. Thank you for being a part of my life, Dr. Hold, you were loved and appreciated by all who were lucky enough to have you both as a teacher, neighbor and friend. RIP!

Patty (Sullivan) Schlossberg, Class of '84

Lynnette Nyberg [Preble]

March 24, 2015

What a special, special person and teacher "Holty" was! He was, and is a treasured memory of my high school days in Needham, MA. I remember thinking-when I graduated all those years ago- that I would never forget him and I haven't. He is remembered by many people [as it should be] and now is making everyone in heaven laugh! The world is a better place because he blessed it. RIP.

Scott Williams

January 4, 2015

Ken was such a remarkable individual. He served on our Board of Directors for several years, during which time he provided wise guidance and steadfast support. He had a lightning-fast wit that never failed him. For many summers, he would appear with a box of strawberries that he had picked for each of us at work. We will miss him.

Susie Moore (NHS class if 67)

December 24, 2014

Mr. Holt was the BEST teacher I ever had...he genuinely cared about all of his students....not just as students, but as human
beings also...I respected him greatly, but always felt as if he was my friend as well as my teacher. He was hysterically
funny and always made you
want to learn. I have so many
stories...too numerous to write.
I will say, as you can tell from all of the enteries, he was an
extraordinarily wonderful
person and will be greatly
missed....he will hold a special place in many, many hearts, including mine. My sincere
sympathy to his family and
friends.

December 23, 2014

I had Mr. Holt as a home room teacher at Needham High. He was so nice and one of my favorite teachers. Dale Hicks Turner (class of 1970)

Charlie Baker - Class of 1975

December 21, 2014

Ken Holt was one of my favorite teachers - and as I read through the tributes in this guest book, I remember why. He really liked what he was doing, and had an incredible ability to share that joy with his students. The man was funny. Wicked funny. But that was just part of it. He used his sense of humor to keep kids interested - no matter what the topic. I loved going to class with that guy, pure and simple. I also learned, for the first time when I read his obituary, that Mr. Holt was a US Marine. The fact that he served his country by joining the Marines is not surprising. He was a public servant, in the best sense of that word. God Bless Mr. Holt. You made a big difference in the lives of a lot of young people - including me.

Mary Wallace

December 19, 2014

Ken Holt was the auctioneer par excellence at our Bear Pond Pot Luck Suppers. He was a director and officer of the Bear Pond Association. Everyone remembers his homemade jam brought to the auction. He picked the berries himself. He was so kind to my mom Louise Monahan and after one auction where my mother was bidding for the jam and didn't realize I was bidding for it for her. Ken always made sure every summer she got a present of her own jar of jam.

Rich Bray

December 19, 2014

I was fortunate enough to meet Ken through the Bear Pond community. What a tremendous person, and what an incredible asset to the lake association! Ken was the first Bear Pond monitor, and single handedly built a database of water testing data that spanned over 30 years. Ken welcomed me and Kent to the testing program in 1995, and converted a routine monthly chore into an event to savor. His quick wit and sense of humor were always in high gear. Ken was also a gut busting one man comedy show as the auctioneer at the annual pot luck dinner. It's an honor to have known Ken and I am very thankful to have shared many hours on Bear Pond as we performed water testing over a 14 year period. He will be sorely missed, but his passion for Bear Pond, and all Maine lakes, will live on through others.

Kim Duguay/Lavigne

December 18, 2014

I first met Mr. Holt in 1974, when I was seven years old. He was our camp neighbor. I spent countless hours with him on his porch, over looking the pond, chatting and rocking away the hours every summer. He loved it when I would bring him a treat of my mother's whoppie pies, and asked when she would be making another batch. I visited him every summer and will truly miss my dear friend come June,

Jean Pacheco Ravinski, NHS class of 1962

December 13, 2014

I remember Mr. Holt, he was a gentleman and a scholar. A power of example to me and so many others.

FROM THE FAMILY