Marjorie Holt

Marjorie A. Holt, better known as Bé, died Friday, September 25, 2015, at the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center in Easton, MD. Born in Media, PA, on July 27, 1920, Bé was the oldest of seven children of the late Alberto H. Santa Maria and Marjorie A. Willcox. She was married for 56 years to the former Honeywell executive and past director of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Richard J. Holt. Along with her husband and five children, Mrs. Holt spent much of her married life in Cuba, Venezuela, and Mexico. A devoted wife and mother, Mrs. Holt was also an accomplished artist. After graduating from the Philadelphia Museum College of Art with Honors, she was responsible for the schematic drawings of the first electronic general-purpose computer, the ENIAC, and was the Art Director of the children’s magazine “Jack and Jill.” She continued her art studies at the Academy of San Carlos of the University of Mexico. Her paintings have been exhibited in Havana, Caracas, Mexico City, and Easton. In 1971, the Holts moved to Talbot County, where Mrs. Holt volunteered at the Academy of the Arts in Easton, serving on the Board of Trustees. She was instrumental in bringing the Academy’s Visual Enrichment Program to Talbot County Schools. One of her paintings, a portrait of Bessie Wells, is part of the Academy’s permanent collection. In addition to her love of art, Mrs. Holt dedicated over 20 years of her life supporting various mental health organizations. She served on the Board of Directors of the Mid-Shore Alliance of the Mentally Ill as well as on the Board of Directors of Channel Marker, Inc. Appointed by the Governor of Maryland, William Donald Schaefer, she also represented Talbot County on the Citizen Advisory Board of the Eastern Shore Hospital Center in Cambridge, MD. Mrs. Holt is survived by five children, Marnie Howell of Sarasota, FL, Richard J. Holt of Herndon, VA, Peter Holt of Hope Valley, RI, Joseph Holt of Easton, and Mary (Polly) Paul of San Diego, CA; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, November 9 at 11 a.m. at the St. Michaels Catholic Chapel. Interment will be private. Memorial donations may be made to Channel Marker, 8626 Brooks Drive, Suite 304, Easton, MD 21601 or Saints Peter & Paul High School, 7906 Ocean Gateway, Easton, MD 21601.

Marjorie Holt

July 27, 1920 - September 25, 2015