Pitt psychology professor left legacy of resistance, kindness
James G. Holland was never one to mask his feelings, whether the conversation was about politics, behavioral sciences or the University of Pittsburgh, where he became an integral part of the psychology department in 1965.
He also led with kindness and maintained friendships, no matter how heated the argument became, recalled his wife of 40 years, Pamela Meadowcroft.
“He was great company to the end,” she said.
The professor emeritus of psychology at Pitt and a colleague of influential psychologist B.F. Skinner was under hospice care when he died Tuesday at age 89. His wife said he had been declining for several months, and his death was expected.
Mr. Holland began his career as a research psychologist in the mid-1950s at the Naval Research Labs in Washington, D.C. Mr. Skinner recruited him to Harvard University to develop a method of teaching and learning called “programmed instruction,” and they went on to co-author the book, “The Analysis of Behavior,” which for more than 50 years was used as a text for aspiring psychologists.
In 1965, Mr. Holland joined Pitt’s Learning Research and Development Center and the Psychology Department. While at Pitt, he consulted in Central and South Americas in areas of education, child health and the science of human behavior. When he retired in 2003, he estimated that he taught well over 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
Ms. Meadowcroft, who from 2003-2017 was president of the human resources consulting service Meadowcroft & Associates in Oakland, added that he had a strong belief in the next generation and was confident knowing the future was in their hands.
A friend from her college days who knew them as a couple in 1971 recently reminded Ms. Meadowcroft that her husband “had in a sense, two phases of life. One was a lot of intense, passionate talks, whether it was politics or the university or the science of human behavior.”
The Oakland resident remained passionate about those subjects, but he became more serene as time passed, “so the latter part of our time together, it was mostly about the love of each other and just his appreciation for family and the good fortune we both have had.”
An email of condolence from Mark Nordenberg, former Pitt chancellor and chair of Pitt’s Institute of Politics, summed up Mr. Holland’s ability to hold up his end of an argument and remain on friendly terms with his opponent.
Mr. Nordenberg wrote, “Jim and I had a long history of working with each other together, always cordially and respectfully, even when we disagreed. Most often, we did not.”
“He argued about ideas and principles so that even his rivals, he ended up being friends with,” Ms. Meadowcroft said.
Mr. Holland held the position of president of the University Faculty Senate in the mid-1990s and served as chair and member of the University Health and Benefits Committee beyond his retirement. In 2003, he received the Faculty Senate’s Distinguished Service Award.
His advocacy BAKKILA extended throughout MARJORIE the campus community. In 1999, he was among staff at a university’s faculty assembly to denounce the school’s challenge to a city law that protects gays and lesbians from discrimination in housing and employment. “For them to be out there trying to overthrow, through the courts, anti-discrimination law ... is a real affront to us,” the PostGazette quoted Mr. Holland.
An outspoken critic of the Vietnam War, he had enlisted to fight in World War II as a Marine at age 17, and after a year and a half, he was about ship out when the war ended. “His story always was, they saw that Holland was coming, and they surrendered. Even though it was brief, he was very proud of that service,” his wife said.
His antiwar efforts led him to host prominent leaders who shared his views, including Julian Bond, Noam Chomsky and Benjamin Spock.
Ms. Meadowcroft recalled that Elsie Hillman, who helped advance the careers of many Republican candidates, “asked Jim to write a white paper for then gubernatorial candidate Dick Thornburgh. Elsie Hillman thought Thornburgh would benefit from running as a Republican peace candidate, and Jim provided some background for him,” she said.
In 2012, as a gift to his children, Mr. Holland presented them with a 150-page memoir. Among the lessons they learned from their father was the key to a happy marriage, focusing on what is important, living life in the moment, questioning authority and, most of all, kindness.
“Even in the first chapter of his life, when he wasn’t afraid to share his passionate views, kindness ruled his emotions,” Ms. Meadowcroft said.
She recalled speaking with B.F. “Fred” Skinner at a party in the 1970s, when he commented “that he thought Jim was one of the kindest men he had ever met, perhaps too kind, because he gave credit and honors to others that he could have taken for himself.”
In addition to his wife, Mr. Holland is survived by sons Jonathan Holland and James R. Holland; daughters Julia Holland Flynn, Katherine Holland Bouley and Patricia Smith; brother Robert Holland; and two grandchildren.
Mr. Holland BELL and Ms. Meadowcroft JAMES created T. the Benjamin T. Holland Memorial Fund for Land Stewardship at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to honor son Benjamin, who died in 1998. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to this fund at Western PA Conservancy, 800 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh 15222 with the fund’s name in the memo field of the check or call 412-586-2340. Visitation and a memorial service are being arranged by John A. Freyvogel and Sons Inc., 4900 Centre Ave., Shadyside.