Roger Holtan

What do you give the man who has everything is a question as old as time. How do you eulogize the most generous man in the world is one yet to be tackled. Roger Holtan, who recently passed away after a short battle with lung cancer, was just such a man. Every person who knew and loved him will attest to the fact that there will never be another like him. From the porter at the casino, who Roger went out of his way to find and pass a $5 dollar bill, to the wealthy lawyer that could never be allowed to buy lunch, his actions were those of a man who gave everything to those around him and always put himself last.

It is what anyone who spent time with Roger admired most about him. Whether it was on the golf course, on a fall hunt where he provided all the provisions and cooked all the meals for the attendees, or even at a shared table at a Japanese steak house, Roger was always the first to pick up the check, often without anyone else knowing about it. It was as natural to him as breathing was for the rest of us.

Generosity was part of Roger’s DNA and for those of us that were privileged enough to absorb and eventually model his behavior, it was life changing. And that, frankly, is what will be missed the most by Roger’s passing. The world is a kinder and gentler place from Roger being in it, even though for those of us who survive without him, it feels a bit sadder.

Roger was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 53 years, L. Harvie Holtan and it was Roger’s desire to be cremated so there will not be a funeral to attend. Celebrations of his life will be held in both Salt Lake City and Mesquite at some point in the future. Celebration, we feel, is the correct word as a life such as his should not be mourned but should be aspired to.

In lieu of any flowers or donations, instead, please model the type of generosity that Roger lived; tip the person bagging your groceries, pick up the check for someone with whom you are dining, see and appreciate the often-invisible people working hard right in front of your eyes and tell them you appreciate them because we truly believe that if everyone modeled Roger’s behavior, the world would be a better place.