PHILETUS HOLT

HOLT--Philetus ("Phil"), of New Haven, died at age 74 on September 11, 2010 after a brief illness. Phil was raised in Summit, New Jersey, educated at Phillips Exeter Academy, and graduated Yale College and Yale Law School. He spent his career as a consultant in housing and urban redevelopment, first at the New Haven Redevelopment Agency and later at Holt, Wexler and Farnam and Yale New Haven Medical Center, Inc. He also gave much of his time to a variety of New Haven charitable organizations, as president of Schooner, Inc., treasurer of the Schubert Theater, and as a member of the board of Long Wharf Theater, among many others. He enjoyed a long retirement, traveling widely, scuba diving, fly fishing in Montana, horseback riding and rounding up cattle on a cousin's ranch. He was known for his warmth, intellect, sense of humor and distinctive laugh, and kinship with people from all walks of life. He was a generous host with considerable culinary skill, an avid sailor, a lover of jazz and an energetic supporter of liberal politics. He is survived by daughter Elizabeth of New Haven, son Stephen, daughter-in-law Laura, and beloved grandsons Philetus and Tattnall all of Manhattan, sister Frances Covert of Athens, Georgia, as well as a wide circle of dear friends. A memorial service and burial in Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven are planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Schooner, Inc. and the Schubert Theater.