James A. Houlding ’64 died on January 19, 2018, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

(The following was published in the Star Tribune, February 18, 2018:)

James “Alex” Houlding died on January 19 of fronto-temporal degeneration. Survived by his wife, Dawn Kuzma, two children, Colin and Laura Houlding, brother, Andrew (Sybil), and sister, Judith (Doug McKenna). He is preceded in death by his brother Richard (Margaret). Born in Cardiff, Wales, in 1942, he graduated from Bowdoin College and received a PhD in English from the University of Minnesota. He loved literature, movies, music, science, great food, and the company of close friends and family. He was, at various points in his life, a gymnast, a swimmer, a competitive cyclist, and speed skater, a runner, and a yoga enthusiast. He worked as a software developer for B. Dalton Bookseller, MACRO, and Wells Fargo. He retired in 2010 when the earliest symptoms of his illness appeared. Post-diagnosis, he joined a support group, participated in medical research at Mayo, attended yoga classes, worked out religiously, and joined the Giving Voice Chorus. He lived the last year of his life at Breck Homes, where he received extraordinary care. He died peacefully there with his family at his side. The family is indebted to Jenny and her team for their love, acceptance, patience, and humor.