An Ode to Dave

Centerbrook, perhaps by virtue of our bucolic locale and certainly because of our reputation for design excellence, attracts talented and interesting people. A standout, who sadly recently shuffled off this mortal coil, was David Holahan. From 2009 to 2016, Dave was our resident scribe, a vocation for which he was – as a former publisher of two weekly newspapers and the author of hundreds of articles, op-eds, travelogs, and profiles – imminently overqualified.

Architects have their own lingo that can be hard for the layperson to decipher. Dave, who could turn a phrase like nobody’s business, was uniquely able to cut through it and find the story. While he occasionally wandered to the birds that flock to our riverside compound, or ruminations about cats or Barbie dolls (inside joke), Dave’s writing always conveyed his unique perspective.

He was a dear friend who taught me, among many other things, that the Oxford comma need not always be employed. In his honor, below are two pieces that capture his voice. And do yourself a favor, visit his website. That is where his words, and his spirit, truly live on.

Really Scary Architecture

Architecture for the Birds


Editor's Note: Dave loved to play hockey. In the image above, he’s in the foreground wearing the vintage Hartford Whalers hat.