Fred Roy Holmes

Army veteran, college professor, world traveler

Published: Friday, September 25, 2009 12:41 PM PDT

Fred Roy Holmes, 80, ended his travels at home in Deer Park on September 12, 2009. While he died a mile from his birthplace, his curiosity and scholarly interests took him around the globe. He was born on June 21, 1929, in St. Helena Hospital, of Herman and Ilott Holmes, proud descendants of ’49er pioneers of Knights Valley. He was raised in Knights Valley and Healdsburg, obtained a B.A. in industrial arts and an MA in history from San Jose State University, and served for 30 years as an innovative teacher and department head of social sciences at Burlingame High School. He also taught at Kansas State University and at Canada and San Mateo Colleges. An Army veteran, he was a vocal protester of unjust war from Vietnam to Iraq and an enthusiastic participant in countercultural and progressive movements and thought, including publication of a textbook, Prejudice and Discrimination. Electrified by travel in Asia, Europe, and South America, he (with his life-love and partner Ann Newton Holmes) was a student of South Asia, a Hindu temple specialist, and friend to many in the land of Rajasthan, India. He was the world authority on chattris, the evocative death monuments of the Rajputs, as well as author of works on Jodhpur’s Umaid Bhawan palace (with Ann). He made a memorable impression roaming around archeological sites and was admired by princes and villagers alike, who knew him as Punkery Thakor or “Feather Chief” for the long plumes that adorned his leather hat. He was the creator of grand and quirky homes in Belmont, Woodside, and Deer Park, which he built and landscaped and where he was a loving, challenging, cranky, and inspiring husband and father. A discriminating wine drinker and collector of Asian artifacts, Fred’s wide-ranging conversation and wit made him friends everywhere. At the end, he was able to view his varied illnesses philosophically and ironically, with gratitude for his adventurous life. Fred is survived by Ann, brothers Jack (Nora) and Oliver Wendell (Ella Mae) Holmes, sister Patricia Winkler, sons Keith, Brian, and Steve (Carlene Pavlos) Holmes, and countless friends and students, Fred’s life was celebrated at his Deer Park home on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009 from 2 to 5 p.m. Donations in lieu of flowers to the ACLU.

Dom Vellucci’s sister gave Fred this class photo – apparently we could buy it but it never got into the yearbook.

For those of you who are unaware, Pat Doran died while serving in Vietnam. Marva McGrady forwarded this photo of his name on the Vietnam memorial in Washington, D.C. The photo is also on the In Memoriam page.