John Gill Holland

I took my first course from Gill during my sophomore year at Davidson. I last talked to him during our 45th class reunion when I ran into him, guess where, in the college library. Among other things, I learned from Gill what it looks like when you genuinely love what it is that you do in life and, just as a matter of who you are, share that love with others. He certainly lit a spark in me, and for that I am forever grateful. RIP.

What a wonderful man and teacher. He inspired this eco major to take several more Literature courses than planned, including his masterclasses on modern English lit and Shakespeare. Will not ever forget him. Three Men in a Boat forever! Bryan Kelleher Davidson '81

There are just a handful of moments along a very long and meandering path that pushed me to where I finally landed with my work, that of experimental documentary filmmaking. Dr. Holland provided two of those moments back in the early 80s. The first was in his "European Novel, Dickens to the Present" course, where he asked me to read aloud from Ulysses, and was actually excited with whatever my mind and voice did with that stream of consciousness writing. The second was when, after I failed...

There are just a handful of moments along a very long and meandering path that pushed me to where I finally landed with my work, that of experimental documentary filmmaking. Dr. Holland provided two of those moments back in the early 80s. The first was in his "European Novel, Dickens to the Present" course, where he asked me to read aloud from Ulysses, and was actually excited with whatever my mind and voice did with that stream of consciousness writing. The second was when, after I failed...

He always had a notepad and would jot down ideas as he had them. He insisted on being called Mr. Holland since he was not a medical doctor but no one was more deserving of the title than he. He had the best laugh. He will be dearly missed. - Kim Rieck Fisher, Class of 1979

Dr. Holland was my professor at Davidson College in 2000. My good friend and I did an Independent Study with him about George Eliot, and it was magical. He was a man who loved teaching, loved students, and loved life. He emanated joy. My sincerest condolences to his family, but I hope you take peace knowing what a full and meaningful life he led.

My deepest condolences to the Holland family. Dr. Holland was a mentor, a friend, and a champion of Victorian literature, which I pursued in my graduate studies. A while back, he gave me a number of Victorian literature anthologies. His comments and observations on the margins surely date back 30 or 40 years. The comments include the names of his students who had read that particular passage or had made an incisive observation. They are a treasure to read. In Dr. Holland´s honor, tonight, I...

My deepest condolences to the Holland family. Dr. Holland was a mentor and a friend and a champion of Victorian literature, which I pursued in my graduate studies. I will honor Dr. Holland by reading the poems of Browning, Tennyson, and Arnold tonight. Rest in peace, sir.