Holland R. “Hollie” Donan, 85, formerly of Upper Montclair, NJ and Naples, FL passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at Community Medical Center in Toms River, NJ. Hollie graduated from Princeton University in 1951 with a BA in History. He also had a storied All American collegiate football career as a tackle at Princeton, culminating in being named Lineman-of-the-Year in 1951. He was inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1984.
He was a US Army Veteran, having served from 1951 – 1953. He had a fifty-year career in insurance, opening two agencies and serving as a Vice President of Johnson & Higgins and later as an agent for Lincoln National Life Insurance Company. He was named for seventeen consecutive years to the Million Dollar Roundtable.
Born in Montclair, NJ, he lived in Upper Montclair and Naples FL for most of his life.
Hollie was preceded in death by his loving wife, Nancy Carroll Donan, in 2010 and by his parents, James and Ruth Donan. Hollie and Nancy were married in 1951. Surviving are three sons, William Donan and his wife Theresa of Sparta, NJ, Thomas Donan and his wife Debra of Basking Ridge, NJ and Peter Donan of Yardley, PA; five daughters, Ann Davidson and her husband Walter of West Palm Beach, FL, Katherine Kelly and her husband Michael of Farmington Hills, MI, Susan Carlson and her husband David of Brielle, NJ, Mary Ellin Carmelitano and her husband James of Wilmington, NY and Elizabeth Chambers and her husband Thomas of Point Pleasant, NJ. He also leaves his beloved 17 grandchildren, Sarah Davidson Hile, Caitlin Davidson, Christopher Donan, Alison Donan, Bryan Kelly, Meghan Kelly Nyeste, Matthew Kelly, Brigit Carlson, David Carlson, Beth Ann Carmelitano Benway, Hollie Carmelitano Bombard, Katherine Chambers, Natalie Chambers, Tyler Donan, Brianna Donan, Brielle Donan and Jack Donan and 5 great grandchildren.
Hollie also leaves dear and lifelong friends. He devoted his life to his wife and family and contributed regularly of his time to the Catholic Church and his community.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s RC Church in Toms River, NJ. Final Interment will be private. The family request that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Barnabas Health Community Medical Foundation, with a designation for the Van Dyke Hospice Program, http://www.cmc-foundation.org/giving/how.html.

Affiliations

US Army