Gary Lee Hollis

Gary Lee Hollis, 77, beloved husband of Barbara Diem Hollis, passed away on July 7, 2025 in Sarasota, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Hollis, Jr. and Ruby M. Hollis. In addition to his wife, Barbara, he is survived by sons Steven (Jill), granddaughter Emma, and grandson Thomas of Santa Clarita, California; Daniel Hollis (Grace), grandson Wade, and granddaughter Margot of Brooklyn, NY; daughter Courtney Hollis and Ricky Willems of Rockville, Maryland.

Gary was born in Hannibal, Missouri and moved to Sarasota at the age of 10 with his family to escape the harsh Missouri winters. Gary reveled in Sarasota's warm, sunny climate and enjoyed many wonderful moments at the beach with his children and grandchildren. He always came prepared with a fresh thermos of coffee and a package of mini muffins. Before moving to Sarasota in 2018, it was a family tradition to visit Gary's parents every summer and flock to Siesta Beach. Gary dutifully added air to the kids' inflatable boat and strapped it to the top of the family van every morning, which only flew off the top of the car once on the drive back home. These are cherished family memories.

A 1966 graduate of Riverview High School, Gary attended the Georgia Institute of Technology and graduated with a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering in August 1971. The following month, on September 11, Gary and Barbara were married at Pine Shores Presbyterian Church. This year will commemorate their 54th wedding anniversary. It was a marriage based on deep love, admiration, and commitment.

As newly-weds, Gary and Barbara moved up to Massachusetts where he joined the MITRE Corporation in Bedford, Massachusetts. Gary was sensitive to the fact that Barbara didn't have her beloved piano, and he decided to build a stand-alone electric piano for her. That was no small task while living in an apartment. It was such a sweet and heartwarming token of his affection. In 1976, Gary transferred to a company site outside of Madrid, Spain where he and Barbara lived for two years. It was an idyllic time as his job involved traveling to radar sites all over Spain, and Barbara was able to accompany him. Gary loved to travel and enjoyed planning many trips, mostly by Euro-rail, throughout Europe. Many family and friends visited and would venture out on trips that Gary had meticulously planned. He also loved to cook and try new recipes. Spain afforded him both of these opportunities.

Upon returning to the states in 1978, Gary became manager of MITRE's Rosslyn, Virginia site adjacent to Washington, D.C. where he worked until his retirement in 2012. Living in North Potomac, Maryland, Gary had the legendary Washington commute. But he never complained about rising early to beat the traffic - he loved to listen to audiobooks while driving his Celica on the early morning open roads.

Gary was passionate about his work and managed many programs at MITRE where he was highly regarded and respected by his colleagues. He was conscientious of the impact of global warming and was pleased to be working with the Environmental Task Force headed by then-Senator Al Gore in the early 1990s. This group became the MEDEA project, which utilized satellite imagery to document global climate change. Gary was well known for his "behind-the-scenes" efforts to support the scientists researching the impact of humanity's actions on the environment.

Gary was an adoring husband and father. Although he was dedicated and passionate about his work, he always made time for his family and let them know they were his first priority - whether helping with school projects, cheering at soccer games, or giving emotional support. He was always happy to put his engineering skills to use around the house. He crafted baby toys and playhouses, carefully laid bricks around the backyard's "Square Foot Garden," and even designed and built a custom two-story guinea pig enclosure. He once returned home from the pet store with two large plush dog toys because "it was a fundraiser for homeless puppies and each of our puppies needs their own plushie."

The family trips he planned when our son Steve enrolled in the College of Santa Fe in Santa Fe, New Mexico have become family lore: sitting at his computer plotting out the route, deciding where we should stop and sightsee, and where we should spend the night. As Barbara sat in a nearby chair with a map, he provided phone numbers to make the reservations. Clearly, he was in his element as planning these trips drew from his best skill-set. These trips included national parks, historic attractions, and cities and have become treasured memories for all of us.

Mentally and physically, Gary was always so strong. He was someone you could count on when there was a crisis. Day or night, big or small, you could rely on Gary's support when you needed him most. He embodied so many wonderful qualities. Despite being somewhat reserved, he could surprise you with a quick witticism or remark. He was my "Clark Kent." I like to think I was his "Lois Lane" as we were both smitten with each other. We love and miss you, Gary.

A private memorial is planned for later this year. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank/Miller School of Medicine, designate: The Brain Research Development Fund. The Brain Endowment Bank is an NIH NeuroBioBank that supports medical and scientific researchers studying the human brain throughout the country. More information can be found at https://tinyurl.com/glhollis