Born on October 11, Father Holloway always prided himself on having
arrived one day before Columbus.
Edward Francis Holloway
was born October 11, 1926, in Salisbury, Maryland, and was the youngest
of seven children. There was a large age difference between him and
his oldest brother, Weller, who was already attending the University
of Maryland at the time of his birth.
His father was the
president and co-founder of Salisbury State Teacher's College (now Salisbury
University). Dr. Holloway would often become agitated when, on outings
with Edward, ladies would compliment him on having such a cute grandson.
"Thank you," he would reply, "he is my son."
Dr. Holloway died
when Edward was eight years old. Two of his older sisters, Jeanne and
Nancy, became his primary caretakers. He entered Salisbury State Teacher's
College at age 16 and promptly flunked out.
He joined the Army
at 17 (lying about his age) and later said it was the best thing that
ever happened to him. He "grew up" while in the service, returned
to Salisbury State, and became an exemplary student.
Necessity required
him to work while in school, so he took a job as a cook at Johnny and
Sammie's, the local diner. There he met Jacquelyn Sturgis, a coworker
who was also a student at Salisbury State. Jackie initially disliked
Edward, but her feelings changed as she got to know him. They married
on Friday, July 8, 1949, at the end of her junior year.
They had a weekend
honeymoon in nearby Ocean City. The day after the wedding, Jackie decided
to cook breakfast. Edward awoke to smoke pouring out of the tiny bungalow
kitchen. Jackie was in tears as she explained that she waiting for the
bacon to get crisp in the pan. (Ironically, she later became an excellent
cook.)
Edward took a job
as a teacher in the Wicomico public school system. Jackie never returned
to college as she soon learned that she was pregnant. After a difficult
pregnancy, she gave birth prematurely to Constance Marie Holloway on
March 25, 1950. Her sister, Pat, took one look at Connie in the hospital
nursery and proclaimed "That child is not going to live."
Against the odds, she did.
The family moved
frequently as Edward received promotions. He was a teacher/principal
by the time Connie entered first grade. Having his daughter in school
had its benefits. When he was teaching science, he would snatch Connie
out of the lunch line, whip out his comb, and use her hair to demonstrate
static electricity.
The family attended
St. Peter's Episcopal Church
regularly and in 1960 began attending St.
Alban's. It was there that Edward decided to join the priesthood.
In the summer of
1961, the family moved to Gambier, Ohio, where Edward began three years
of grueling study and keg parties at Bexley Hall. Even though Jackie
was working full time and Edward had part-time work, money was tight
and, at times, non-existant. But every time there was not enough money
for groceries, a check would miraculously arrive from St. Alban's.
After graduation
from Bexley Hall, Edward (now Father) took a headmaster position in
Boynton Beach, Florida, at St.
Joseph's. In 1967, the family moved to Daytona Beach and Father
became headmaster of St. James'
Day School. Jackie taught fifth grade at St. James until her death
in March, 1984, from cancer.
In December 1984,
Father married Kandy Lowe, a widow whose son had attended St. James.
Soon after, Father left St. James and became vicar at St. Timothy's.
He held that position for five years, and then became assistant priest
at St. Mary's Episcopal Church,
a position he held at the time of his death on July 8, 2002.