Joseph W. Holliday

Joseph W. “Doc” Holliday, age 88, sadly left our world on Friday, March 14, 2025.  Born January 5, 1937, in Charleroi, PA to Joseph J. and Gertrude “Trudy” Golle Holliday, Joe lived most of his life at home in Cheswick, PA.

For over 30 years, Mr. Holliday was a beloved Chemistry teacher at Highlands High School (formerly Har-Brack).  For even longer (57 years!), Joe was the voice of the high school football games at Highlands, serving as the public address announcer at home games.  If you didn’t know Mr. Holliday as an educator, you certainly knew his voice from Friday nights.  Joe's tenure as announcer went back to the days of Har-Brack High School and he once told a newspaper reporter in 2015 that he had been hoping to announce the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis over the public address system during a 1962 Har-Brack home game, but that moment didn't come until later.

Joe was a dedicated grammarian and never far from a dictionary.  A few years ago, at Christmas, his only request was for a new dictionary to replace one that he had “worn out”.  Text messages were never without capitalization and punctuation, and you were sure to hear from him if your responses were lacking in those areas. He also loved puns and would be sure to let you know if you ever missed his intended joke.

Joe was a dedicated dog dad and cat dad, nurturing, along with his wife Helen, numerous canines and felines over the decades.

Joe was kind and generous, donating to many different causes and charities.  He was especially fond of his alma mater, The University of Mount Union, where he was proudly a member of their Forever Mount Society, having given faithfully for over 25 years.  He was also a proud supporter of animal charities and The Red Cross.

Joe loved flowers and old movies, had a fantastic sense of humor, and always appreciated a good meal, which were usually of his own making.   When he did go out to eat, his favorite dinner out was at Hoffstots Café Monaco with family and friends.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Terry Wade Holliday and his wife, Helen Kennedy Holliday.  Joe is survived by his brother, Christopher Robert Holliday (Mary) of Vermont, and numerous nieces and nephews: Jennifer (Dr. Jeffrey) Holliday-Buchanan, of Ohio, Dr. Bradley Holliday, of Virginia, and Dr. Richard (Catherine) Dattola, of West Virginia, along with many great and great- great nieces and nephews.

Joe’s family would like to thank the village of people who cared for him, took time to check in on him, and supported him as he aged, especially Fran Sperling, his caretaker of 9 years, his neighbors Bill and Kathi Pater, friends and neighbors for over 50 years, and friends David and Kathy McPherson, who have proven in words and deeds that family ties (and not necessarily blood relations) mean everything.

As were his wishes, there were no services or visitations scheduled.  Joe will be  interred along with his wife at Deer Creek Cemetery in Cheswick, PA.

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