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Gilbert Harris Holmes

1939 ~ 2017

The world is quieter tonight.

Gilbert Harris Holmes has passed away at the age of 78.

The wild ride of Gil “Daddy Rad” Holmes (Squaw Valley) finally came to an end after a relatively short struggle with cancer at 5:45am on November 27th, 2017.

Born in 1939 in NYC to parents Edgar G. Holmes, and Florence C. Holmes, he was the youngest of four boys. Gil grew up in Long Island, New York during the 1940’s, and served in the Army in the 101st Airborne Division.

Gilbert married Sharon Ott, his wife of 55 years, in San Francisco, CA in 1962, and started a family there with the births of, first, Gilbert Jr. and then Victoria, before moving back to New York, where he and Sherri had their third child, Bradley. After moving to Pennsylvania, where Gil discovered and developed his life-long love of skiing, the Holmes family eventually moved out west to Park City, Utah in the early 1970’s, and raised the kids there, before finally settling down in the Lake Tahoe area, where Gil spent his remaining years.

Gil was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Edgar Jr., Jack, and Ron. He is survived by his wife Sharon and his children, Gilbert Jr., Victoria M. Holmes, and Bradley R. Holmes, his grandchildren Kyler Bowers, Keedra Banks, (her husband Britt) Mariah Bowers, and Trayson Bowers.

He adored his family: Great-grandchildren Brody Bowers, Hadlee Banks, and the twins Hazel and Easton Banks; Sister-in-law Barbara Holmes, and Aunt Janice Heath; nephews and niece Jack Holmes Jr., Nancy Holmes, Edgar Holmes, Gregory Holmes, Gilbert Holmes, and John Holmes.

Gilbert was highly intelligent, intensely funny and vivacious, and had an at times “over-the-top” personality. This, coupled with a sharp wit and outrageous sense of humor, culminated in his having spent time as a young stand-up comedian at the Catch a Rising Star comedy club in NYC. Gil was also very athletic throughout his life: He was an excellent swimmer and diver, was a paratrooper in the Army, loved to mambo and was a fiercely determined skier and runner. He rode horses, loved boating, and was a bicyclist and hiker, as well as a fisherman. Gil always preferred to engage in sports rather than merely observe.

He will be sorely missed.

Many thanks to the Reno CLC, and hospital, to Sierra Senior Services, as well as Gil’s multitudes of friends, fans, and supporters.

At the request of the deceased, there will be no memorial service. Rather, family and friends will be notified at such time as a local memorial spot is designated at which to visit and celebrate Gil’s life any-time, as per his wishes.

Donations in Gils memory: http://www.fredhutch.org / http://www.pay.gov/public/form/start/53164095 / http://www.sierraseniors.org


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