Katherine Church Holland

May 24, 1943-July 17, 2018

Katherine “Kathy” Church Holland, 75, passed away in her sleep on July 17th, 2018, at Kaiser Hospital, Oakland, attended by friends and family. Kathy was one of four sisters born to Phil and Laurie Church of Seattle, Washington. Laurie was a graduate of the Chicago Academy of Music in Chicago. Phil was a Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington. Kathy attended Roosevelt High School in Seattle and graduated Pomona College, Claremont, California, with a degree in art history. She pursued a graduate degree in art history at Oberlin College in Ohio.

Kathy served as the founding director of the Research/Collections Department at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and oversaw the publication of its first catalogue of its collection, San Francisco Museum of Modern: The Painting and Sculpture Collection. Throughout her life, Kathy demonstrated an excellent eye for art and a remarkable memory for artists and their work. She continued her career managing art collections at the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank, the California Historical Society, and Visa International. Kathy also served as President of the Board of the Richmond Art Center, California. She was a published author and collaborated on Art of the Gold Rush, published in 1998 by University of California Press. Kathy co-founded a box lunch catering company named Carey Edwards focused on fresh and local foods. Kathy met her husband, Charlton (Pete) Holland riding the 47 Van Ness Muni bus in San Francisco. In 1970 they took leave from their jobs and spent thirteen months traveling the world. She loved to travel, lunch out with friends, cook (she was a gourmet cook), collect Bauer Ware, do cross word puzzles and experience art. In later years she focused on a love of music, taking classes, going to shows and traveling to legendary music history locales. Kathy was a delight to all who knew her.

She is survived by her husband, daughters Elizabeth Holland and Cameron Holland, and five grandchildren. A private service will be held. Donations in her memory can be made to the Oakland Museum of California.