Michael Holdaway

Michael Jon Holdaway

January 1 1936 - March 21 2025

Michael Holdaway of Longmont CO, formerly of Dallas TX, died unexpectedly March 21 2025 at the age of 89. He was born in Canberra, Australia on January 1, 1936, to Frederick and Ellen Macklin Holdaway. In 1937, the family moved to Honolulu, HI, and in 1948 they moved to St. Paul, MN. Mike became a US citizen in 1951. Mike earned his BS in Geology from Yale in 1958, and his PhD in Geology from University of California, Berkeley in 1963.

Mike was employed at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas TX from 1962 to 2000 as a Professor of Geology. At SMU, he taught courses in igneous and metamorphic petrology, mineralogy, environmental geology and elementary geology. His research field was in the study of experimental petrology and metamorphic rocks and minerals. Mike worked on the pressure-temperature conditions of formation of minerals. His best known work was on the pressure-temperature stability relations of the three aluminum silicate minerals andalusite, sillimanite, and kyanite (1971). Later, he emphasized field-related studies on metamorphic rocks and minerals in Maine, New Mexico, and Montana, asserting the pressure and temperature conditions of their formation, and inferring the height of the mountains that once stood above these metamorphic rocks as they formed.

In 1958, Mike married Patricia Piercy. The couple had three sons, Mark, Scott, and Ian. Pat died in 1991 after a long illness. In 1992, Mike married Angeline Gruneich, entering a blended family with her grown sons Jonathon and Jeffrey. Mike and Angie moved to Longmont, CO in 2001. Angie died in 2015 after a long illness. In 2016, Mike met Patricia Sernyak, and they maintained a committed relationship until she passed in 2022. Mike was an active member of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Longmont, serving as moderator for two years. He enjoyed working with others in the church to write and update church documents, and also worked on peace, justice, and environmental issues. He volunteered at Soft Voices, a drop-in center for people with mental illness; with FOCUS Offender Reentry, an organization that assists in the transition from incarceration to productive life; and Longmont Community Justice Partnership, which promotes restorative justice for offenders.

Mike was preceded in death by parents Frederick and Ellen; his first wife Pat, his second wife Angie, and his committed partner Pat Sernyak; and by his brother David Holdaway. Survivors include: sister Margaret Holdaway of St Paul, MN; son Mark Holdaway of Tucson AZ, and his sons Taylor Holdaway of New Haven CT, and Timothy Holdaway and wife Sonia and son Milo of Camas WA; son Scott Holdaway and wife Sonia of Hood River OR; son Ian Holdaway of Longmont CO; stepson Jonathon Gruneich and wife Mariana and sons Isaac and Brendan of New Hartford NY; and stepson Jeffrey Gruneich and wife Xiaoyan and sons Jacob and Benjamin of Wellesley MA. Mike is also survived by his nephews (David's sons) Robert Holdaway, John Holdaway, and Steven Holdaway, and their families.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm May 17 2025 at First Congregational United Church of Christ at Ninth and Francis, Longmont CO, Reverend Amelia Richardson Dress officiating. The memorial service will be available live online. A reception will follow. A Memorial Gathering will be held on May 17, 2025, from 01:00 AM to 02:00 AM at United Church of Christ Longmont 1500 9th Ave. This memorial service will be available on YouTube Live.