Elwood "Woody" Holman

Elwood Josiah Holman, a.k.a. Woody Woody was a sailor, a skier, a builder. He constructed furniture, a yurt, and four houses, and with his three sons put together an ice boat. He fashioned intricate metal sculptures: tall ships, model Ts, trains and biplanes. He welded each of these from oddball scrap—sparkplugs, tennis cans, bottle caps, canning jar rings. He loved his road bike, and relished weekend breakfast rides from Ann Arbor to Chelsea with friends. He pedaled alongside the vineyards of France, uphill past the cottages and castles of Scotland, the heathers of Ireland. Woody played the piano by ear, had a deep baritone voice, and sang both in college and in choral groups at Cordia Senior Living. And he was a dog lover. Chai, a chocolate lab, accompanied him to Cordia. After graduating from Case Western University with a business degree, Woody worked as a traveling salesman for Dow. He then made a U-turn and pursued a master’s degree in landscape architecture at the University of Michigan. (Even though Woody was born in Wauseon, Ohio and grew up in Shaker Heights, his loyalty shifted to maize and blue.) He worked for the Ann Arbor firm Johnson, Johnson & Roy, and then went into partnership with architect Rick Herman, later merging several firms to create the Corporate Design Group. He served on the board of the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce for six years, and when the job of chamber president opened, Woody was hired. During his twelve years at the chamber, Woody was lauded for not only spearheading the best interests of the 1300 large and small businesses within the organization but also for problem-solving many critical issues of Washtenaw County: affordable housing, homelessness, and urban sprawl. Most notable: Woody was a loving husband, father, grand and great-grandfather, and grand and great-grand uncle. Two of his sons, Jim, and Tom, preceded him in death. There will be quite a reunion upstairs: Woody’s parents, Elwood J. and Mildred Holman, sisters Sue Payer Beeghly, Kathryn Ann Harter, Alice Jean Rice Johnson, and Winifred Holman; Uncle Cornelius and Aunt Katherine Ackerman; Uncle Wesley and Aunt Florence Ackerman, first wife Miriam (mother of their sons) and niece Betty Sue O’Maley. On this side of the veil, Woody will be dearly missed by his son Jeff and wife Annie, and their daughters Shea and Teaghan; Jim’s daughter Reggi and son Jimmy, and four nieces and nephews (Miles Harter, Bob Harter, Sherry Rice, and Bryan Rice). Woody was married to Emmy Holman for nineteen years, and has been a pivotal figure in the lives of Emmy’s children and grandchildren: Dorion and Carey Liston (Lily and Juniper), Shayna Cram (Jasper and Coltrane), and Marney and Corey Winfield. Woody resided at Cordia Senior Living in Traverse City for the past eight years, and was loved by staff and residents alike. “He has a real fan club,” commented a hallway neighbor. Despite his progressive memory loss, Woody was still able to charm and entertain “the other inmates,” as he referred to them. Woody loved to dance, and would spin all the women who awaited him around the floor at Cordia holiday parties. Woody’s gentlemanly valor was peppered with humor and ready quips, even when bedridden. Hospice nurse: “Woody, how’s your breathing?” Woody: “Fine. I’ve been doing it my whole life.” Sincere thanks to Cordia Senior Living staff, from wait staff to Concierge to Wellness, and especially Karen Anderson. ProMedica Hospice and Sunrise Comfort Care provided attentive, compassionate end-of-life care. Donations in Woody’s honor may be directed to 217 Recovery or The Nichols Arboretum Tribute Fund. A Celebration of Life will be held at The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park in Traverse City on Friday, June 23 at 11:00 a.m. All coast to coast fan club members are invited to attend.

Elwood "Woody" Holman

July 23, 1930 - February 24, 2023