Delco Historical Society executive director dies at 68
Linda Houldin was admired as much for her long-standing community involvement as for the impression she left on the countless lives she touched.
On Monday morning, the 68-year-old executive director of the Delaware County Historical Society and cofounder of the Delaware County Veterans Memorial died at Bryn Mawr Hospital following a severe asthma attack.
“It was a tremendous ... asset that she was, not only to the historical society, but to Delaware County as a whole,” Delaware County Councilman Dave White said at the historical society’s annual meeting Tuesday night.
Saddened by Houldin’s passing and extending thoughts and prayers to her family and friends, Guy Fizzano, board president of the Delaware County Veterans Memorial Association, spoke of her significance to the county.
“Her contributions to her community were both immeasurable and far reaching,” he said. “Hers is a legacy of profound generosity. Linda gave countless hours and used her many considerable talents for the benefit of others.”
Born in Philadelphia, she was raised in Newtown Square and was an alum of Marple Newtown High School. She married her husband, John, 50 years ago and they had two children, Kim and John, and four grandchildren.
Houldin had served as executive director for the Delaware County Historical Society, overseeing its Passport to History program that educates more than 7,000 elementary students in the history of Delaware County annually for free as well as coordinating its greatly popular Rockin’ with the Troops concerts.
The historical society board released a statement upon her death.
It read: “Linda was an amazing woman and an excellent board member and director. Her love of history and the society was always evident in all she did on a daily basis. Linda was always there to fund raise, manage, develop and create events and help ‘pick up the pieces’ no matter what they were.
“Never afraid to offer suggestions, teach or assist with programs, reach out to potential board members, sponsors and EITC businesses, and be there for moral support, Linda was always present at all of our events and was a strong voice for the mission of the society,” it continued. “Not only did Linda serve as president of the Delaware County Historical Society, and most recently as the executive director, but also she was a great friend to all of us! Her death came as a shock to the DCHS ‘family’ and we will miss her greatly.”
At the annual meeting Tuesday night, White asked attendants to take a moment of silence to think of Houldin, her family and the great impact she had on the county.
“She believed in education, she believed in getting the word out, going to schools, visiting children to be able to give them the great hearts of what Delaware County was and what she believed Delaware County could be,” White said.
He added, “She will be missed. If anybody knew Linda, when she walked in a room, you knew who was in charge. But, she was in charge for a good reason – she knew what she was talking about, she knew how to manage and get through the situation and she put it all together for us.”
In addition to the historical society, Houldin, a Republican, served in public capacities for 27 years from Marple Newtown School Board member, tax collector and township supervisor. She also previously worked at the Brandywine Conference & Visitors Bureau.
She, along with the late Steve Neri and Stan Short, help found the Delaware County Veterans Memorial, which opened to the public on West Chester Pike in 2013 and honors veterans from every war and conflict. That effort has not been forgotten.
“Her dedication to our veterans, to education and historic preservation, to the memorial and to Newtown Square was unending and truly inspirational,” Fizzano said. “Linda showed us love, joy, spirit, tenacity, honesty and good will. She impacted the lives of so many people and through her efforts, many more people for years to come will benefit from her life’s work.
“She lived a remarkable life and leaves us all better for having known her,” he continued. “She was taken from us far too soon and she will be missed beyond what words can express.”
Visiting hours are 5-8 p.m. Friday and 8:309:30 a.m. Saturday at the D’Anjolell Memorial Home of Broomall, 2811 West Chester Pike in Broomall. A funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Anastasia Church, 3301 West Chester Pike in Newtown Square.