William Lynn Holland
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Published in Legacy.com on July 10, 2024
William Lynn Holland, 77, of West Newton, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at home on June 26, 2024. He was born January 9, 1947, in Seattle, Washington, son of Edward and Blossom (Webster) Holland. The family moved to Arlington, Massachusetts when Bill was seven. Bill was known for his loving kindness, high sense of integrity and strength of character as demonstrated by his lifelong commitment to service and social justice.
A graduate of Arlington High School, Bill furthered his education at Amherst College and MIT, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Art and Design and a Master’s in Architecture. Throughout his life, he maintained a passion for learning and innovation. Bill had a distinguished career in residential and commercial design, beginning with his own firm Inside Outside Design & Construction, and later with William Lynn Holland, Architect. He moved on to commercial design with firms including Margulies Peruzzi. In his final years he contributed significantly to the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, where his efforts supported public housing authorities across the state as a software developer. Bill was a founding member of the Massachusetts chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and for several years taught a course on greening existing buildings at the Boston Architectural College. Bill was an active member and lay leader of the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, where he was a founding member and former co-chair of the Racial Justice Ministry.
In retirement Bill took pride in designing and renovating the family home and grounds, implementing an innovative age-in-place design.
Bill is survived by his wife of 42 years, Margaret (Meg) Lynn Holland; son Craig Lynn Holland; siblings Susan Karbiner, Nancy Buell, Zeke Holland; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and son Matthew.
A Celebration of Life will be held in his honor on September 21 at 2:00 pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, located at 1326 Washington Street, West Newton.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Compassionate Care ALS (https://ccals.org/).