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John Holzer Obituary
John D. "Jack" Holzer Jr., 76, a resident of Derby for fifty-one years, peacefully entered into eternal rest on September 22, 2020, in the comfort of his home, with his loving family by his side. He was the beloved and devoted husband of Rosemary Benanto Holzer. Jack was born in New Haven on December 24, 1943, son of the late John D. Holzer Sr. and Clare Derbacher Holzer. After graduating high school, he entered the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam Era. Following his honorable discharge, he continued to serve his country by joining the U.S. Air National Guard 103rd Tactical Unit in Orange, CT where he retired from his military career as a Senior Master Sergeant and First Sergeant after thirty-one years. His civilian career in the U.S. Postal Service began in Hamden as a letter carrier and worked through the ranks serving in many towns, including, Post Master in Stevenson, Supervisor in Milford and retired as Post Master in Naugatuck. He was the owner of the Orangewood Travel Agency in Orange from 1991 until 2003 and owned a private driving service since 1974 until his illness. He was also the proud owner of the former On Deck Circle Sports Memorabilia in Shelton. Jack was a huge fan of the Green Bay Packers and attended games in Green Bay each year. He was also an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox. He was a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 19 and enjoyed traveling the world with his wife. In addition to his wife Rosemary, he is survived by loving daughters, Lori Balawajder (Steven) of Manalapan, NJ and Debra Peccerillo (Anthony) of Derby, cherished grandchildren, Jack Peccerillo, Nicholas Balawajder, Cara Peccerillo and Allison Balawajder, caring sisters, Carol Dilello (Dominick) of Hamden and Kathleen Mitchell (Irving) of Cheshire and several nieces and nephews. A walk-through visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, September 25, 2020, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the chapel of the SPINELLI-RICCIUTI/BEDNAR-OSIECKI FUNERAL HOME, 62 Beaver Street in Ansonia. Visitors are asked to wear masks and physical distance as they walk through, pay their respects and exit without lingering to ensure all guests can come through. On Saturday, his Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. (Meet Directly) at St. Mary's Church, 212 Elizabeth Street in Derby. Interment with U.S. Air Force military honors will immediately follow in Mt. St. Peter Cemetery in Derby. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jack's memory may be made to Project Purple (an organization created to raise awareness, support patients and families affected by pancreatic cancer and fund research efforts to defeat this disease) at www.projectpurple.org or by mail at 115 Main Street, Suite 1, Seymour, CT 06483. To sign Jack's guest book or share a memory, please visit www.spinelliricciutifh.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Holzer
Sponsored by NHRegister.com.
David Donofrio
November 2, 2020
Rosemary and family,
My deepest condolences for your loss. I have a lot of great memories of Jack from the SLU days. A true gentleman and will be sorely missed by many.
Mike Kelo
October 18, 2020
Dear Rosemary, Lori, Debra, Kathie & Carol,
Deepest condolences regarding your loss of Jack. What a great guy he was and always will be! From picnics, to holidays, to Jack taking the time time to have dinner with me in Richmond as he drove by. Always was a pleasure to see him and speak with him. He treated others just as God wants us all to treat others. My dad adored him too! God hears the cries of the broken hearted. May you all be restored by God and the love Jack had for you and all he met.
Bert and Martha Weisbart
October 1, 2020
Jack was a delight to know. His smile, positive outlook, laugh and helpfulness was so much a part of our travel plans. Always a hug...always good conversation...always a blessing to be with. Our deepest sympathy to Rosemary and his family. Through his conversations it was clear that they were such a joy to him. We are sure he will be missed by many.
Wolfgang Lutz
September 29, 2020
Dear Family Holzer,
As a son of Walburga Derbacher Lutz, I would like to express our deepest sympathy to you for the loss of your beloved husband, father, brother, grandpa and uncle. Having met Jack Holzer in Landstuhl, where he served in the armed forces, I remember him as a very sympathetic guy, being strongly in love with his beloved lady.
Hoping you will pass this hard times in a decent manner we express all our deepest condolences.
On behalf of my sister and brother, Wolfgang Lutz, Bad Homburg, Germany
john Merriman
September 28, 2020
Jack was my friend and that of my family--my late spouse Carol and my children Laura and Chris--for decades. He kindly drove me and often the four of us countless times to and from JFK. He was such a wonderful person, so intelligent, responsible, resourceful, and caring, and with so many interests and a fine family. We talked sports, above all about his beloved Packers and the Red Sox,, and much else and laughed and laughed. We always looked forward so much to seeing and being with him. We will miss him very much and feel privileged to have known him and be able to call him a friend.
Frances and Michael McManus
September 26, 2020
We will miss Jack. What a nice man. Always helpful, always a smile and a hug for us. Jack's last run for us, was to pick Matthew up at JFK airport. He picked him and his friend up, brought Matt home and out of the goodness of his heart, brought Matthew's friend home in New Haven at 1:00 a.m. I tried to give him a tip, he wouldn't take it. I thanked him for doing such a sweet thing and I'll never forget what he said, "Anything for my Notre Dame brother's." A special man. I am sure an angel guided him gently up to Heaven, as this time he was the passenger. All our sympathies
Al Klevorick
September 26, 2020
Jack was a prince. He was always -- and I do mean always -- in good spirits when he came to take me on a trip. Jack was a master of stories and full of good conversation on a wide range of topics. Of course, showing interest in his Packers or Red Sox was duly rewarded with stories and analysis. He could make the beginning of a day bright and the end of the day, after a long set of meetings or a long trip, restful and restorative.
Jack was kind and generous. He did his best to accommodate any request, last-minute or quirky as it might be. And, he was the model of calm no matter the weather or road conditions.
Though I started as a client, Jack became a friend. I shall miss him very much.
James and Marsha Corcoran
September 25, 2020
Jack was a wonderful man and a very nice person . We will miss his friendly smile . Although we knew him through his work , we thought of him as a friend . He helped us in our frequent trips to Florida and was always dependable, thoughtful and caring.
Marsha and James Corcoran
Brigitte Folz
September 25, 2020
Wishing you all great comfort. Jack was wonderful about keeping family connected even across the continents. So sorry for the loss. The ripples of his passing will be felt across the miles. Brigitte and Elliott
Linda Carboni
September 25, 2020
I am sorry for your loss ." Uncle Jack" was my first travel agent and booked Karen and myself on a trip to Florida . I remember him showing up at the airport upon our return with a sign with our names on it . He always made me smile. I continued through the years following his travels and life on Facebook and catching up at family gatherings at Karen's house. He will be missed.
Tony and Mary Ann Limau
September 25, 2020
Sorry to hear about Jack’s passing. Sincere condolences to his family. May he rest in eternal peace.
Harold Hongju Koh
September 25, 2020
Jack was like a member of our Koh-Fisher family. He was a Rock, so strong, reliable, friendly, humane. Jack and I traveled thousands of miles together over many years. And he took every member of my family on long and happy journeys. He was always there. He was always in a good mood. He was always ready to talk about the Red Sox and the Packers. He never got flustered. And he always got us there in time. My mother especially loved Jack: he drove her and Korean guests and became very fascinated by Korean culture and cuisine. On one occasion, our child’s passport expired, so Jack drove to NY to get her, drove her to the Passport Agency and waited so she could get her passport renewed and then drove her to JFK so she could fly to Mexico to join us on vacation. She arrived only an hour after we got there, all because of Jack. When I was sworn in to the State Department both times, Jack was there in the audience cheering for me, not least because he had driven friends down from Yale Law School to be there. One of my favorite memories is when I went to lecture at SUNY Geneseo. We realized it would take 5 hours by plane, and less than 5 by car. So Jack drove me there, stayed overnight and drove me back. On the way we drove through all the towns in CT where Jack had been Postmaster and he told me his whole work history and family life story. When we got to the hotel, we had a nice dinner together talking and watched a football game. And then after my lectures, we drove home chatting as old friends. We never ran out of things to talk about. He was always so interested in our family. He had so many adventures to recall. And he was such an honest, good, and decent man. He loved his family and talked about them often. I spent more time with Jack than I have spent with most of the faculty and staff and students at Yale Law School, where I have taught for 35 years now. He drove famous people, like Madeleine Albright, Canadian Supreme Court Justice Rosie Abella, and they all loved him immediately. What a friend! There is no one like him.
Carolyn Koh Choo
September 24, 2020
What a truly good hearted person Jack was. He was inspirational; he quietly but surely made other people’s life go a little smoother and happier. I will miss all the fun talks we had on our rides, too numerous to count over several decades.
Chuck Kalander
September 24, 2020
Rest easy my dear friend. Our trips to Green Bay & Dallas will always be a special memory. It was an honor to know you all these years. Your kindness, generosity & advice will always be remembered. You were one of the greatest people I’ve ever met and touched many lives. Love ya.
Doc Martin
September 24, 2020
Jack was a dear Friend and aGreat Guy
I will Mis Jack Immensely to the
Holzer Family I am Very Very Sorry
For Your Loss Jack is in Gods Hands
The Good Lord will take Good
Care of Jack God Bless
Doc Martin
Ronald Dick & family
September 24, 2020
So very sorry for your loss. You are all in my prayers.
marilyn rafferty
September 24, 2020
We will miss him. A true friend . He would take me to the airport and you could not believe each time. a hug a smile a positive attitude. So while my spouse drove i had the pleasure of a warm car a great driver and and Jack who would make you smile and laugh. Sincere condolences to Rosemary his wife and all his family We were happy to have met and know a true friend like Jack
ROBERT ALBERINO
September 24, 2020
I met Jack when we attended Dwight school, he lived on Kensington St. We played baseball together in the school yard. We reconnected at Notre dame and graduated in 1961. He started attending the ND dinners and we talked about old times and friends we missed. I looked forward to seeing him at the next dinner, it filled my heart just talking with him. I will always remember the smile on his face.
leane/alden Atchison
September 24, 2020
Jack l''ll meet you at tonys dinner save me a seat.we will laugh about our trips to fla. and leanes veg. soup.plus the ic cream.love you buddy leane/alden
Pasquale Elia
September 24, 2020
I am very sorry for the loss of Jack. I attended St. Boniface Grammar School and Notre Dame High School, Class of '61, with Jack. He was always a stand-up guy!
Owen Fiss
September 24, 2020
He was such a lovely man. I spent many hours on I-95 with him. The road was miserable, but I loved every conversation with him.
Owen Fiss, Yale Law School
Rich & Betty Landino
September 24, 2020
Jack was a good friend of our family for many years and will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family. May he rest in peace.
Elise Sivula
September 24, 2020
Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire family. May God bring you comfort and peace in the days ahead. Rest in peace cousin.
Eric & Elise Sivula
September 24, 2020
You were a good postmaster
I always felt that I was spoken with respect.
Celine (ex-employee Naugatuck P.O.)
Bob & Paula Mirmina
September 24, 2020
Knowing Jack most likely he’s planning a trip to somewhere. Bon voyage my friend.
Judith Dunne
September 24, 2020
Rosemary and family....Ro, I am so sorry to hear about Jack's passing....please accept my deepest sympathy for you and your children...Sincerely, Judy Dunne
Frank & Jean DeLucia
September 24, 2020
Sorry to hear of Jack’s passing. His smile and laugh were contagious. We became forever friends over the years going back and forth to Florida. We will miss him dearly. Our condolences to his family.
Francis and Rosemarie Minnix
September 24, 2020
Very sorry to hear of Jack’s passing
Our sincere condolences to his family
Lewis & Joan Lagervall
September 23, 2020
We had many enjoyable rides over the years.
Peter and Barbara Krilivsky
September 23, 2020
May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
John Savino
September 23, 2020
with deepest sympathy to you wife and children. Jack was the nicest man and a great supervisor. I worked under him for years in Milford and became friends with him. He will be missed by everyone who knew him and may Jehovah God Bless him and remember him at the Resurrection. I ask this in Jesus's Name Amen.
Jean Koh Peters
September 23, 2020
Jack and his drivers drove my husband and me to start and end many vacations; I remember so many times trudging off a plane, seeing his exuberant smile, and thinking, “So great to be home”! He had a contagious enthusiasm, for family, football, and spontaneous travel. We will miss him deeply.
With great gratitude and sorrow,
Jean and Jim Peters
Jean Koh Peters
September 23, 2020
Jack and his drivers drove my husband and me to start and end many vacations; I remember so many times trudging off a plane, seeing his exuberant smile, and thinking, “So great to be home”! He had a contagious enthusiasm, for family, football, and spontaneous travel. We will miss him deeply.
With great gratitude and sorrow,
Jean and Jim Peters
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