Stephen Porter Holden

Stephen Porter Holden, 21, of Rocky Hill, died unexpectedly Friday (February 26, 2010,) in Rocky Hill. Born in Hartford, he was the son of Roy M. Holden and Mary Jo (Gagnon) Holden of Rocky Hill. Stephen was employed at Westside Pizza in Rocky Hill. He was an avid soccer fan and an accomplished player, having been named Most Valuable Player during his senior season at Rocky Hill High School as well as being named to the All Northwest Conference soccer team. Stephen also served as co-captain of the soccer team at Rocky Hill. He was a member of the National Art Society and also has a black belt in karate. He graduated from Rocky Hill High School in 2006. Besides his parents, he is survived by his brothers, Ryan Joseph Holden and Nicholas George Holden, both of Rocky Hill; his paternal grandmother, Mary R. Holden of West Hartford; his aunts, Lori Shroll and her husband Brian of Wethersfield, Lucille Smith of Coventry, Chris and Fran Holden of Milford and many cousins. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Florence and George Gagnon and Malcolm Holden as well as a great-grandmother, Mildred Holden. The funeral will be Friday, March 5, 2010, beginning at 11 a.m. from the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial that will be celebrated at 12 noon at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 280 Brook St., Rocky Hill. Burial will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral chapel in Wethersfield. Memorial contributions in Stephen's name may be made to Rocky Hill High School, Student Activity Fund, Stephen P. Holden Scholarship, 50 Chapin Avenue, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-2300. For online expressions of sympathy, please visit www.desopo.com.