Christopher Gerard Holtz

Christopher Gerard Holtz, 74, finished his life’s work on July 10, 2025, after a multi-year battle with Primary Progressive Aphasia. He was born May 21, 1951, to Donald and Carol (Bailey) Holtz at General Hospital in Elkhart, Indiana. He was their 3rd child of 13, 11 of whom survived him. Chris loved to be around water and boats, mostly sailboats. He participated in sailboat regattas while at Indiana University. Upon graduating from IU with degrees in History & English, he then moved to St. Petersburg, FL and worked at a marina selling boat equipment. Chris also crewed and sailed up and down the Florida coasts and the Caribbean during this time. He eventually moved to Maryland, first in Annapolis, then settled in Cambridge to be near the water. There, he started his own company, Atlantic Floating Docks, selling and installing boating equipment up and down the east coast. He was a born salesman and boat fanatic! Whether it was organizing and running regattas as the Commodore of the Cambridge Yacht Club, collecting sailboats for his family in his backyard, or racing one of his own, he loved it all. He joined the Christ Episcopal Church, where he met and married the love of his life, Jeanie. Together they had a daughter, Patsy, who was/is his pride and joy. He and Jeanie both served on the vestry at different times and the Holtz family participated in many church activities, including singing in the choir and making snow-cones at the Triathlon food booth. Jeanie and Chris believe God truly brought them together and the church became the center of their life. Chris was the epitome of “Joy of Life.” He worked hard, played hard, spoke loudly, argued loudly, laughed heartily and loved deeply. He was a good and helpful friend and brother. His favorite place to shop was the Auction Barn and he couldn’t pass up bargains on eBay! He is survived by, and will be terribly missed by, his wife, Jeanie Theresa Holtz, daughter, Patsy Carolyn Holtz, 7 brothers, Donald, Jonathan, James, Peter, David, Andrew, Daniel Holtz, 4 sisters, Letitia Cohoon, Cecilia Hayes, Monica Swygart, Amy Patrick, and 129 (and counting!) additional relatives. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, August 27 at Christ Episcopal Church in Cambridge, 601 Church Street, Cambridge, MD 21613. Reception to follow in Whatley Parish Hall. Memorial donations may be made to Christ Episcopal Church, Altar Guild Fund. 601 Church Street, Cambridge, MD 21613-1729 or Talbot Hospice, 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton, MD 21601-3805.

Christopher Gerard Holtz

May 21, 1951 - July 10, 2025