Obituary of Harvey Keith Holm

Harvey was born in Berkeley CA to Earl and Helen Holm of Rio Vista, (Berkeley was the nearest hospital in those days) and called Sacramento, Millbrae, San Francisco, Marysville and Winton home, graduating from Sacramento's McClatchy High in 1942. His brother Leland, six years his junior, passed away in 1970. Harvey's family spent lots of time in Santa Cruz during childhood vacations when the Boardwalk was made of boards and fondly remembered taking a pony ride on the beach when the pony ran away with him in the saddle. Exciting memories! In junior year at McClatchy he met Barbara Jean Quinn, a student at St. Mary's High School in Stockton and they married in 1947. Meanwhile, after high school, Harvey had enrolled at Cal Tech in Pasadena but joined the Army Air Corp after only 3 months of school. He was a Pilot instructor during WWII as the service became the US Air Force and served in Air Force reserves for another 26 years attaining the rank of Major. In 2011Harvey and his family visited the US Air Force Museum in Dayton Ohio to view the last remaining example of the plane he flew, the B26 Marauder. After the War he resumed studies at Cal Tech in Pasadena and graduated with honors in Mechanical Engineering earning a scholarship from Convair Aircraft Corporation and landing a job with them in San Diego. The Holms later moved back to Sacramento where Harvey became a state registered mechanical engineer and joined California's society of Professional Engineers. Harvey was part of the post war engineering crowd that brought technology to what would someday become the "Silicon Valley" designing helicopters for Stan Hiller in the early 50's and working on the early versions of audio tape for Ampex. The Ampex sign is still a California landmark on the side of Hiway 101 in Redwood City. While still living in Los Altos when it was more apricot orchard than High Tech Harvey worked for Watkins Johnson in Scotts Valley creating the technology that enabled transistors to evolve from tubes. His family followed him "over the hill" and they moved to California Street in Santa Cruz into Judge Henry Bias' home in 1964 and lived there for 43 years. In 1968 Harvey accepted the Vice President job at Cal-Air Conditioning of Menlo Park and remained until retirement in 1990. Harvey was mentor and partner with son Greg on numerous construction projects in Santa Cruz County where his reputation of fairness and honesty is still discussed. Harvey worked with his daughter and son in law's business for 12 years and later renovated homes with son Jim after Barbara's passing in 2005. Harvey adopted Hwy 17 in memory of younger son Greg who passed away in 1989. Cal Trans often recognized him as "Volunteer of the year" and eventually as "Volunteer of the Decade" in 2011for his service and son Jim and he continued the trash cleaning until his passing. Barbara and Harvey cared for many animals, wild and domestic, including linnets, ducks and a goat named "Billy", (A hit for kids show and tell at school) and multiple cats and dogs, Lucy, Christie, Friend, Mocha, Sugar, Maggie, Gretchen, Stubby, Finnie, Tinker Belle, Simba, Winnie, Tunabud and Pinckles. They also hosted numerous foreign exchange students at their home after their children moved out. One such student from Japan has become a very close member of the family and stays in close contact even now. Harvey passed away on June 14 surrounded by the love of his family. He is survived by his daughter Chris Moore and her husband Tom of Scotts Valley, his son Jim "Homer" Holm of Santa Cruz, his grandsons Matt Moore and wife Jenna, Brian Moore and wife Danielle and great grandchildren Austin and Mila Moore. A celebration of Harvey's life will be held on June 25, 2014 at 1pm at Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St., Santa Cruz, CA