Memories of Justice Holland and wonderful and numerous because he’s been such an important part of my life for nearly 30 years. But at the same time, it feels like I don’t have enough memories, far too few, to demonstrate his significance to me and to so many others. He’s been a part of every personal and professional milestone, achievement and moment in my life and career since I met him.

And yet it is our relatively insignificant interactions that I will miss most. Our many meals and lunches together. Him driving to pick me up, to take me to work when there was a foot of snow on the ground. when I was his law clerk. My complete inability to say no to him whenever he asked me to do anything like join a committee or a board or some other organization. Our dramatic productions for the Inns of Court, which were all him, as I’m sure you can guess.

Sending him an email to tell him he left something on the roof of his car, which I could see from the third floor window of Family Court. Justice Holland had a way of making you feel valued like you had something worth contributing. Even though he was a brilliant and accomplished jurist, teacher and writer, renowned and respected nationally and internationally.

He was always humble, unassuming and down to earth, and he always had time to talk, if you needed his advice, which I needed a lot. I would not be where I am today without his influence., gentle guidance, humor and encouragement. Quite simply, he’s the best person I’ve ever known. Over the years, he was my boss, my mentor, the standard by which I measured most of my personal and professional decisions and choices.

Note: The law clerk remarks were limited in time due to the number of clerks.