Obituary of Thomas Richard Holtz

Thomas Richard Holtz, Sr., 76, aerospace engineer and citizen of Great Falls, VA for over 37 years, passed away on February 3, 2013 from complications of cardiopulmonary disease. A native of Wauwatosa, Wl and a 1958 graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Mr. Holtz had a long career in the fields of aeronautic propulsion design and space exploration. From 1958 through 1962 he was involved in jet engine design (including in the B-70 Valkyrie and the SR-71 Black Bird) and in experimental research on magneto-hydrodymanic drives and ramjet propulsion. During these years he was employed by North American Aviation, Pratt and Whitney, and the Maquardt Corporation. From 1963 through 1975 Mr. Holtz was involved in manned space flight and the race to the moon, first with Aerospace Corporation of Los Angeles, CA and TRW in Houston, TX. This included work on the design of Titan and Saturn rockets, and the Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Apollo-Soyuz missions. In 1975 TRW relocated Mr. Holtz to Great Falls, VA, where he worked contracts in support of the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA), and later the US Department of Energy (DOE). During the many projects with ERDA and DOE, Mr. Holtz's work included satellite programs and other special projects related to his propulsion and engineering backgrounds. In 1992, Mr. Holtz retired from TRW. He worked briefly on the EER Conestoga rocket project, and then served as a consultant for CTA on various efforts to the Federal Aviation Administration from 1997 to 2004. Mr. Holtz retired again in 2004. Mr. Holtz considered the following as highlights in his professional career: the Titan II Gemini Launch Vehicle Second Stage, the Titan III Liquid Rocket Stages, and US Air Force Advanced Launch Systems. Additional special projects included the Apollo Lunar Rover, with related crew moonwalks and rover trips, and development of experiment mission requirements and integration. Outside of his professional life, Mr. Holtz was a volunteer fireman in Harris County, TX during the late 1960s and early 1970s, and a volunteer referee and coach for the various semi-professional adult and youth organization soccer teams in Washington, DC in the late 1970s. He was a long-time parishioner of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Great Falls, VA, and during the last decade was a member of the John Lyon VFW Post 3150 Men's Auxiliary. During his retirement he became a recreational birder. He is survived by Constance Holtz (his wife of 54 years), his daughter Marie Kolls of Fairfax, VA, his three grandchildren, and his sons Thomas Holtz, Jr. of Upper Marlboro, MD, Michael Holtz of Arlington, VA, and Dominic Mark Holtz of Rome, Italy, as well sisters Susan Wolf of Hubertus, WI, Janet Quail of Whitefish Bay, WI, and Christine Brown, WI, and brothers James Holtz of Madison, WI and Daniel Holtz of Seattle, WA. Relatives and friends may call on Adams-Green Funeral Home, 721 Elden St., Herndon, VA on Sunday, February 10, from 4 to 7 pm. Funeral service will be held at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 1020 Springvale Road, Great Falls, VA, on Monday February 11th at 11 am. Interment will be held at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington, VA at 2:30 PM.