~  Ross Holland  ~

An Obituary for Ross was forwarded to our Class:

Ross Holland II, longtime resident of Menlo Park, died Feb. 11, 2011, at Kaiser Hospital-RWC after a long illness. He was 64.

Born in Mobile, Ala., the eldest of four children, he grew up in Sunnyvale, Calif., and attended Homestead High and Foothill College. For over two decades, Ross worked in the mechanics and construction trades. In the mid-1970s, he did extensive carpentry work at Palo Alto's historic Varsity Theatre. As a general contractor and president of On-Site Construction, Inc., from 1978-96 he joined with local architects in commercial and residential building projects on the Peninsula and in San Francisco.

Mr. Holland volunteered his time in the 1980s at local public schools. He single-handedly established several of the first in-classroom computer labs at Encinal Elementary School using salvage and acquired PC parts, which he supplied. He initiated the creation of a lunch program at Hillview Middle School. He recognized the vast potential of electronic communications for young children, well before the Internet Age. He was fascinated by all phases of computing. Although he had no formal training, his remarkable intelligence and tireless generosity helped others overcome technological difficulties. He could fix anything.

Ross cared passionately about the rights of others. He was known for his outspoken advocacy of the American Civil Liberties Union, and for his indomitable spirit.

Mr. Holland is survived by Joanna McClean, his partner of 35 years, and their only son Tyler; siblings: Ray, Sharon, Sheila, and half-sister Carolyn. He will be missed.