The Nebraska Coalition has lost its visionary, its leader and its friend. We mourn the death of Richard “Dick” Holland, chairman of the board of directors, but celebrate the life he lived and his tireless support of the work of this organization protecting research, specifically embryonic stem cell research.
Dick died Tuesday night, at age 95, after a short illness. He and his late wife, Mary, supported many organizations in Omaha with generous donations. The Holland Performing Arts Center, which bears Dick and Mary’s name, will allow Omahans to long remember the Holland name and the couple who were passionate about arts, education, children and the community.
Dick and Mary had four children, including a son, Dean, who died from an auto accident in 1970. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his daughters Nancy, Barbara and Mary Ann “Andy,” who also serves as a member of the board of directors of the Coalition, and his five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Dick believed that “cures save lives” and we will continue to honor his memory promoting awareness across the state of the accomplishments of Nebraska-based medical and health research and the quality of life benefits it provides.
Read more about Dick and his impact on Omaha in the Omaha World-Herald and the UNMC Newsroom.