Clare Elizabeth Holland died at her home in Sharon, Vermont on September 3rd, 2026. Clare was born in Corning, NY on June 24th, 1956, to Mary and Jack Holland and lived in upstate NY for 10 years before moving to Toronto, Canada, where she spent her middle and secondary school years. She talked often about how great her childhood was and how much fun she had with her parents, siblings, and friends. Clare’s parents gave her a flying lesson for each “A” on her report card, and she learned to fly from the same pilot who taught her father and grandfather to fly. She then went to Wells College in Aurora, NY, another place that was always special to her. After college, she taught physics at the Rochester School for the Deaf, a job she was very proud of, and traveled across the country, before several serendipitous events brought her to the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire, where she lived for the rest of her life. For 20 years, she was one of the many interesting personalities who worked for Logic Associates in Wilder and helped grow the company into a major employer in the Upper Valley.

She lived in South Strafford for several years and then settled in Sharon, VT in a house that bordered 200 acres of woods, water, and wildlife, which she knew every inch of. She was an avid birder (her binoculars went everywhere with her) and took great joy in the changes that came with each season. No matter where she traveled, and she went to many beautiful and extraordinary places, she thought her backyard was the most beautiful place on earth.

Clare was as active as the border collies that were usually at her side. Whether it was team sports, tennis, running for fun or in a road race, or watching Jeopardy, she loved to win. After playing softball for a year, a sport she enjoyed more for the post-game festivities than for its strategy, she started a women’s ice hockey group that combined her lifelong love of the game with her competitive spirit. The travel team that grew out of this group competed around Vermont and had just the best time on and off the ice and Clare was key to it all.

She had scores of friends in the Upper Valley – too many to name here – and appreciated the perspectives and insights that each one brought to her life. She nurtured those friendships during dog walks, road trips, gourmet meals, and dirt road runs. She was curious, opinionated, and had an enthusiasm for life that will be sorely missed.

Above all, though, she adored her family and looked forward to every holiday and family vacation so she could be together with them. She loved talking, sparring, and laughing with her five siblings and their partners and took enormous pride in the accomplishments of her six nieces and nephews. If you were a friend of Clare’s, you knew of their professional exploits as well as when they got a new dog. Every family achievement was a cause for celebration.

Clare is survived by her five siblings, Laura (Jay), Lida (Graeme), Bill (Susanne), Jennifer (Glen), and John (Pam); six nieces and nephews, Will, Liz, Nick, Kate, Julia, and Matt. She was predeceased by her parents and sister, Lesley. A private family service will be held at a later date as will a party in honor of her life.