Michael Holland

Michael Holland, affectionately known to family and friends as "Miguel" or "Mikey," departed from this world on Sunday, January 21st, 2024. He was surrounded by loved ones at UNC Hospice Home in Pittsboro, North Carolina.

Michael, the middle child of Gloria and Melvin, was born and raised alongside his two brothers, Alec and Philip in Lexington, Massachusetts. Michael was an energetic child, always running about the neighborhood with friends and partaking in any team sport he could. Come summer, when the boys were young, the family headed north to Georgetown, Maine, where they spent warm days clamming in the mud, running from horseflies, and shouting above the crash of the ocean waves. These childhood memories were some of Michael's favorites.

Michael graduated from Lexington High School, class of 1980, and attended Hobart and William Smith College where he became President of his fraternity, Phi Kappa Tao. After school, and back in Massachusetts, Michael settled in Ipswich. He married and soon welcomed a beautiful child, Michael's reason for living, Una. Michael and his family moved to North Carolina, and, after separating from his wife, Michael began a new chapter in sobriety. It was then that he met the great love of his life, Diane, who he credited with turning his life around. Together, along with Una, and Diane's daughters, Grace and Lily, they created a new family and home which would sustain and complete Michael for the rest of his life.

As a manager at various grocery stores, Michael was a beloved mentor and role model to all of the younger workers. It was with one of these jobs he was offered a coveted opportunity for management training, where he lived in Ireland for 6 months. On his days off, he traveled the Irish countryside, finding adventure where he went, be it solo, with co-workers, or during visits by both Diane and Una. Finn, his pint-sized troll figurine he picked out in a kitschy gift shop, was his trusted companion through the once-in-a-lifetime experience. Mike and Diane then moved to the town of Hillsborough in 2022, where they found their community.

Michael was many things, but to anyone who was lucky enough to know him, he was a happy guy. He was a Patriots fan, a Tom Brady lover, a sucker for a good oat milk cappuccino, and always searching for the perfect "guitar face" at concerts. More recently, after years attending MerleFest in Wilkesboro, N.C. and the IBMA World of Bluegrass festival in Raleigh, N.C., Michael signed up to volunteer. He never turned down a chance to listen to music and loved chatting with fans and musicians. Every stranger Michael met was a new friend to make, someone to connect to and swap stories with. From the concert stage to the coast, Michael loved beach trips as much as he loved his music. If there was a body of water nearby, he would be splashing in. Whether it be in Hawaii, Florida, Maine, or any other beach they came across, Diane joked about how she'd have to drag Michael out of the water, the skin on his fingers wrinkled from hours submerged. Michael also loved his rituals, he frequented the same coffee spot each morning, finding comfort in the familiarity of greeting the same smiling faces and hot cup of caffeine. Michael understood the beauty in the every day-he was a survivor, in more ways than one.

In his final months, Michael celebrated Christmas in Florida with Grace, Ambrose, and his first grandchild, Sloane, who loved her "Jampa." He danced with Lily for the Father-Daughter dance at her wedding to Nathan, and got to see Una begin a graduate program in writing with the support of their partner, Jason. Looking to live life 'til the end, he and Diane attended a New Years Eve Avett Brothers concert. At the end, with alternated cuddles from his dogs, Gussy and Banjo, his family helped turn his hospice room into a 24/7 music festival, headlined by The Grateful Dead, Jimmy Buffet, Nickel Creek, The Avett Brothers, and Cat Stevens. Mikey passed away encompassed by his family. He was truly a loved man.

There will be a celebration of life in honor of Michael in the Spring of 2024. Please feel free to reach out to the family at inmemoryofmh@gmail.com for more details if you would like to attend, as location and date are TBD. A GoFundMe has been set up for Diane to assist her with the financial strain brought about by the medical and living expenses of the last six months. If you would like to donate, you may do so here at https://gofund.me/5139cf09. If you would like to make a donation in Michael's name to his favorite dog rescue, Saving Grace Animals for Adoption, you may do so here at https://savinggracenc.org/. Go to "Donate Now" on their homepage and click "in memory/honor of." Feel free to write a message in the optional email section, directed to inmemoryofmh@gmail.com, so the family can receive an acknowledgement of the donation as well. Donations can also be mailed in-just put "Michael Holland" on the memo line and Saving Grace will do the rest.