Timothy A. “Tim” Holt, a retired Baltimore police officer and Harford County volunteer firefighter who was an Iraq War veteran, died July 3 of a stroke at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center. The Bel Air resident was 57.
“Tim never stopped working. That was his lifestyle,” said Eric Janik, a retired Baltimore police officer and colleague.
“His dedication was nonstop. He’d get out of a police car at the end of the day and then jump on a firetruck,” Mr. Janik said. “He was a man with a huge heart, and from the first time we met, I looked upon him as a brother.”
Dave Anderson was a friend of Mr. Holt’s for 16 years.
“Because he had been in the police department and was a volunteer firefighter, he always wanted to help people, and he was always there if you needed help,” Mr. Anderson said. “He had a heart of gold. That’s who Tim was.”
Chris Gibbons, also a member of the fire company and a Harford County police officer, described him as “a humble and great individual.”
Timothy Andrew Holt, son of Richard Holt, a Grumman Aerospace controller, and Shirley Holt, a homemaker, was born in Baltimore and raised in Fallston.
After graduating in 1985 from Fallston High School, where he played lacrosse, football and swam, he joined the Marine Corps. Stationed at Camp Lejeune, South Carolina, he was a recruiter and warehouse clerk, and after completing active duty, a reservist.
He studied criminal justice at what is now the Community College of Baltimore County Essex and Harford Community College.
In 1982, Mr. Holt joined the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co. 13. After the Marine Corps., he worked as a firefighter at the Veterans Administration’s Perry Point.
He was enrolled at the Baltimore County Police Academy, but in 1991 was unable to graduate because he had been recalled to active duty during Operations Desert Storm and Shield in Iraq. While there, he was decorated with the National Defense Service Medal.
He remained in the reserves until 1993, when he was discharged with the rank of sergeant and returned to the police academy from which he graduated in 1993.
Mr. Holt began his career with the Baltimore Police Department in 1993 and was assigned to the Eastern District, and because of his firefighting background, was appointed to the department’s arson investigation unit as a detective.
One of his high profile cases was the Oct. 16, 2002 firebombing of the home of Carnell Dawson Sr. and his wife, Angela Marie Dawson, who lived at 1401 E. Preston St. The fire resulted in their and their five children’s deaths.
The firebombing was in retaliation for Mrs. Dawson calling the police to report drug dealing in the area of East Preston and Eden streets.
Darrell L. Brooks was convicted in the death of the Dawson family and sentenced to life in prison. Today, the Dawson Safe Haven Center occupies the site.
In 1995, while working off duty as a security guard at the Escape Night Club in White Marsh, Mr. Holt confronted a knife-wielding man who had stabbed another bar patron.
The assailant, Michael McLaughlin, threatened him with a knife. Mr. Holt then shot him. He later died at the R Adams Cowley Maryland Shock Trauma Center.
“This had a tremendous effect on Tim for the rest of his life,” his brother, Jim Holt, of Fallston, wrote in an email. “The man’s mother wrote Tim a thank you letter that he cherished.”
Mr. Holt was also a member of the Baltimore Police Department’s Honor Guard which travels the nation honoring police officers killed in the line of duty.
“We’ve buried a lot of brothers and sisters,” said Mr. Janik, who was also a member of the honor guard. “And of course, we formed a bond with other honor guards across the country, and Tim was a guy who always made friends along the way.”
Mr. Holt, who retired in 2015, earned numerous commendations during his career.
He continued keeping busy in retirement delivering auto parts for Fisher Auto in Bel Air and working in security for two private companies, Centennial Protection Group and Operational Police Protective Services, which was founded by Mr. Janik 16 years ago.
“He worked side-by-side with me when I started this company,” Mr. Janik said.
Mr. Holt also continued at the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co. where he was a firefighter, emergency medical technician and safety officer. He obtained the rank of captain.
“He was especially proud of the activities he and Company 13 held for the children in the community including birthday parties and Santa Claus runs,” his brother wrote in the email.
“With Tim, it was all about public service and he loved kids,” Mr. Janik said.
Mr. Holt also enjoyed his role as mentor to neophyte firefighters.
Mr. Gibbons shared many runs and responded with Mr. Holt to many calls through the years.
“When I joined in 1989, Tim was already there,” Mr. Gibbons said. “He trained me on the apparatus and how to drive the ambulance and ladder truck. He was a very patient teacher who carefully explained things and in a comfortable environment and I enjoyed that.”
“He was a very popular figure at the Emerald Society’s bull and oyster roasts and at the annual Firefighters Convention that is held in Ocean City,” Mr. Janik said.
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“Tim was an icon at the conventions,” Mr. Gibbons said.
“Tim selflessly led a life of service and never bragged about his deeds,” his brother wrote. “He was a true patriot. he would appreciate it if we all thank our military, fire and police, whenever possible.”
Mr. Holt was a member of the American Legion.
A breast cancer survivor, the Susan G. Komen Foundation and St. Baldrick’s Foundation were recipients of Mr. Holt’s philanthropy, his brother said.
He enjoyed visiting Ocean City, sunrises, collecting hats and country music, and his annual pilgrimages to attend Kenny Chesney’s concerts.
There will be a visitation from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. July 23 at Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co., 2210 Carrs Mills Road, Fallston, with a second visitation scheduled for the next day from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the station.
A service with honors will be held later that day from 4 p.m. to 6;30 p.m., at the station.
Funeral services are private.
In addition to his brother, Mr. Holt is survived by his mother, Shirley Holt of Bel Air; half-brother Thomas DiFrancesco of Ellicott City; and many nieces and nephews.
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