David W. Holz, helped revive Old Home Days

David W. Holz, 60, of Williamsville, who was one of the individuals responsible for reviving the annual Old Home Days celebration in Island Park in the 1960s, died Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2006 in Williamsville Suburban Nursing Home.

Born in Buffalo, Mr. Holz was a 1965 graduate of Williamsville South High School. He worked in the grocery industry for 34 years. One of his earliest positions was as frozen food manager at Bells, now Quality Markets, at Main Street and Union Road in Williamsville. Later in his career, he was a buyer and receiver in the beverage department.

In 1967, Mr. Holz urged Williamsville Mayor Neal Frank Sr. to revive Old Home Days, which prior to that year had not been recognized since World War II, according to his wife, Susan. A committee was later formed and the event reintroduced.

"I always told him, 'One of these days you're going to be in the parade because if it weren't for you, none of this would have been possible,'" she said. "Unfortunately, I was never able to fulfill that promise to him."

Mr. Holz was a member of the Amherst Police Auxiliary for four years, earning the Auxiliary of the Year Award in 1973. Susan said her husband was involved in one of the first shootings at Island Park.

"He and his partner received a call of a man with a gun at Island Park and when they went to apprehend him, he was talking to a group of teenagers and he turned around and starting shooting," she said. "They dove to the ground, and his partner tossed David the keys to the car to call for backup."

Mr. Holz later worked for four years as a guard and driver for Armored Motor Service of America, retiring at age 53 because of health problems.

Mr. Holz enjoyed collecting sports cards, hubcaps, and books on baseball and football, listened to police scanners, and was a passionate fan of the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills.

Services were held Saturday, Oct. 20, 2006 in Amigone Funeral Home.