Obituary of David J Holt

David Jewett Holt, 83, of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, passed away peacefully August 24, 2021. David is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marilyn Moore Holt; his two daughters, Sarah Kingree and her husband Kevin of Basking Ridge, NJ, Amy Mason and her husband Simon of Chatham, NJ; grandchildren Olivia, Sam and Audrey Kingree; Anna, Evangeline and Tessa Mason; brothers Gary Holt of Arizona and Jonathan Holt of Florida; and his nieces and nephews. David was born June 25, 1938, in Newton, Massachusetts, to Frederick Burton and Thelma Holt. He spent his formative years in Cheshire, CT, where he was active in his community, including at the Grange, where he met his beloved wife and best friend, Marilyn. He graduated from Upsala College in NJ with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mathematics and settled into life in NJ, raising his two daughters in Basking Ridge. He never left his Connecticut roots, spending summers at his family cottage in Guilford, CT. A gentle and quiet man, his true nature was always evident to family and friends who knew they’d be treated to a silly joke or a comforting word. He was a tried and true MacGyver who could fix anything with ease. A life-long tinkerer and early adopter of technology, he turned those interests into a successful career with his wife as a business owner and entrepreneur, owning gas service stations and retail stores, including The Works, a popular local t-shirt store, with dear friends. The Sunoco station on Route 46 in Parsippany that he and Marilyn operated for decades was a hub for locals who enjoyed their welcoming personalities and a beacon for thousands of interstate travelers. David was a car enthusiast and mechanic who spent many happy hours restoring and driving his MG convertibles, while being an active member of the MG Car Club. For many years he was a proud volunteer member of The Parsippany Fire Department, District 6, where he could often be seen driving the fire truck. Fire safety was important to him, and he worked for the State of New Jersey to help apply fire codes to businesses and homes. Nothing was more important to David than his wife, Marilyn. His love for her and her devotion to him was an inspiration to anyone who knew them for even a short period of time. Funeral services will be private for family. In honor of David, donations can be made to the Basking Ridge Fire Company No. 1 and EMS.