Daniel Kerry Holland

Daniel Kerry Holland, loving father, grandfather, brother and friend, died peacefully on October 15, 2024 at age 83, after a sudden illness.  He was surrounded by his family and his dedicated care team at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Kerry, also fondly known as Papa, Dad, DK, Father Holland and Big Boy, was born in Cambridge in 1941. Kerry, the oldest of 4 children, sisters Karen and Pam Holland and brother Mark Holland (Jo Ann), spent his early childhood years in Jamaica Plain.  The Holland family moved to Newton when he was 8 years old. Kerry attended Sacred Heart School in Newton Centre before entering Boston College High School in 9th grade. After graduating, Kerry entered the Jesuit New England Province at Shadowbrook in Lenox.  After his time in seminary, he graduated from Boston College in 1965 with a degree in philosophy. Kerry’s time as a Jesuit included teaching at Fairfield Preparatory School in Connecticut and Baghdad College in Iraq. Kerry returned from Baghdad and, while still in the Jesuits, obtained his master’s degree in psychology at Boston University.  With thoughtful discernment, following his heart’s desire to have a family, Kerry made the decision to leave the Jesuits.  He took a job at Danvers State Hospital where he met and fell in love with Sue, who worked there as a nurse.  Sue and Kerry were married in 1972 at the Jesuit retreat house in Gloucester on the rocks overlooking the ocean.  

Kerry pursued a career advocating for care and rights of people with mental health concerns.  He took a job with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as Area Director of Mental Health in the western part of the state, where he spent the remainder of his long career. Kerry and Sue raised their three children Brendan, Mara and Kelly in Westfield, Massachusetts.

Kerry committed his life to his family, his work and to making our world a more loving, compassionate and just place for all people. Kerry welcomed people from all walks of life into his family home; he hosted L’Arche Community meetings to provide friendship and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities, Sanctuary meetings for refugees fleeing wars in Central America and even offered shelter to some of his clients when they found themselves without a home. Kerry enveloped everyone around him with a sense of belonging. He instilled these values of kindness, compassion and justice in his children, grandchildren, friends, coworkers and all who were fortunate enough to cross paths with him. 

Kerry felt abundant gratitude for the wonder of nature; from walking through the gardens and woods of Stanley park, skiing the mountains of the East Coast, to camping and hiking in Maine. He chased every sunrise and sunset and never passed up an opportunity to stand beside or swim in his beloved ocean. Even in his last months of life, he swam in the Atlantic Ocean, the kettle ponds of Cape Cod and Flying Pond in Maine.

Kerry is survived by his children Brendan Holland, Mara Holland Lindsay (Tony) and Kelly Holland (Emily), and his most beloved grandchildren Charlotte, Rowan, Aidan, Christian, Hunter and Liam all of whom he loved and delighted in with abundant joy and pride.

In memory of Kerry Holland, a funeral mass and celebration of life will be held at  St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church in Boston on November 8th, at 11:00am.  There will be a reception in the church afterwards.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in commemoration of Kerry Holland to Lynn Community Health Center https://www.lynnchc.org/donationformhttps://www.lynnchc.org/donationform or to the Daniel G. Holland Scholarship Fund at Boston College (Advancement Office, Cadigan Alumni Center, 140 Commonwealth Ave., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467).