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  • Helping hands

    In lieu of flowers

    In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
  • Who else knew Spencer?

    Help keep everyone in the know by sharing this memorial website.
Helping hands

In lieu of flowers

In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.

Personal note from Lucretia Holden

Dearest Family and Friends,

Thank you so much to everyone visiting Spencer's Life & Legacy Memorial site.

Our beloved Spencer aka "Torch" was a talented artist, fierce activist, loyal father, loving husband, and faithful friend.

This site is a catalyst to honor his wishes and lift our spirits. Please take a moment to read about his life and legacy and share some of your favorite stories about him as well as photographs and videos. You can also write condolences and share stories. Let's help each other celebrate his well-lived life and in recognition of his love of laughter, smile through our tears.

Last, please note that the Spencer Holden Scholarship with CUNY Baruch College has been established!

Efforts are being made to set up one more scholarship in Spencer's memory with his alma mater: Hope High School. Details on how to contribute to it will be posted soon.

Please subscribe below if you'd like to be notified when more information is added.

Updates

Update from Jan. 18, 2024

Dearest Family & Friends,

If you or someone you know is a student (and also a parent) enrolled at Baruch College in NY, please be sure to inquire about the Spencer Holden Scholarship this year.

The scholarship will be awarded beginning this Fall 2024 through Fall 2027 very year for four years!

Thank you to everyone who made a generous donation.

Sincerely,
Lucretia

Update from Jan. 3, 2024

Dear Family and Friends,

Today is the day Spencer was born, and I am very proud to announce that the Spencer Holden Scholarship at Baruch College has been raised!

We’re kicking off 2024 with the $29,000 scholarship four year scholarship —covering the cost of tuition, books, and fees of a student who's a political science major and parent.

Thank you to everyone who generously donated funds over the past two years. You’ve helped me honor Spencer's educational legacy.

Sincerely yours,
Lucretia

Update from Nov. 29, 2022

Dear Family and Friends,

Today is #GivingTuesday.

Please give your support by helping me raise funds for the Spencer Holden Scholarship at Baruch College. The full scholarship of $29,000 covers the cost of tuition, books, and fees of a student who's a political science major (and parent) for four years.

I challenge you to match or beat my recent donation of $775 today. There's just $14,000 left! Please help honor Spencer's legacy by giving your tax deductible donation today. Just click on GIVE or make a check or money order payable to the Baruch College Fund, in the memo note the Spencer Holden Scholarship Fund, and mailed to:

Baruch College Fund
1 Bernard Baruch Way, Box A-1603
New York, NY 10010

The college will send you an acknowledgement letter for your tax deductible contribution.

Thanks in advance for your love and support.

Sincerely yours,
Lucretia

Update from Oct. 27, 2022

Dearest Family and Friends,

I hope this email finds you well.

October 23rd marked two months from the first anniversary of Spencer's passing December 23, 2021, and I want to thank you for your support, comforting words, and prayers thus far. I sincerely appreciate you.

I'm writing to ask for your monetary support in helping me meet my fundraising goal of $29,000 for the Spencer Holden Scholarship at Baruch College. This full scholarship covers the cost of tuition, books, and fees of a student who's a political science major (and parent) for four years.

There's just 65 days left to raise $14,650, that's half of $29,000! Please help honor Spencer's legacy by giving your tax deductible donation today. Just click on GIVE or make a check or money order payable to the Baruch College Fund, in the memo note the Spencer Holden Scholarship Fund, and mailed to:

Baruch College Fund
1 Bernard Baruch Way, Box A-1603
New York, NY 10010

The college will send you an acknowledgement letter for your tax deductible contribution.

Thank you in advance for your love and support.

Sincerely yours,
Lucretia

P.S. I've raised $1,600 for the Spencer "Torch" Holden Athletic Scholarship for Hope High School!

Update from March 11, 2022

Special thank you to the following family and friends who gave contributions that were included in a donation made directly to the Newark Beth Israel Medical Center's Cohen Cancer Center website:

Song, Grace & Eunju of Bloomfield Dry Cleaners Corp. (NJ) $100
Angela "Eartha Kitt" Gordon (MD) $ 50
Gwendolyn & Jeffrey Aultman (NC) $ 25
Dr. Sunnie Kenowsky (NY) $250

Update from March 9, 2022

Hello, Hello, Hello,

I'm happy to announce that the Spencer Holden Scholarship with CUNY Baruch College has been established!

The Spencer Holden Scholarship is a full scholarship (covers tuition, books, and fees) will support a Baruch College student studying or majoring in political science every year, for 4 years.

Obituary

Spencer Holden, affectionately known as “Torch,” was born in Brooklyn, NY on January 3, 1939. He was the youngest child of James Holden and Marian Walker Holden; his siblings—all of whom preceded him in death—were Robert “Biggie” Holden, James “Jimmy” Holden, Shirley Taylor, and Donald “Moe” Holden.

Beloved son, brother, cousin, uncle, father and husband, Spencer grew up in Providence, Rhode Island where he graduated from Hope High School in 1957. He graduated with a …

Event details

Memorial events are private

Due to COVID, the service and celebration will be with family and personally invited friends and guests on Thursday, April 21 at 12:00PM. However, you are welcome to view the service via Zoom. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ You can view the service via the link below: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/HGRCNUHOSxCMrCUWNQYAKY0YT7ORIAdfMk_malnB6TSDdoH0DQ0NXakqlYXQiGPSX7NHO7u3Tv1jqOmr.EvI5ShZK3Kqf7HsF Passcode: &xwY12c.

Has Zoom meeting — Join

Meeting ID: 842 7727 5894

Password: 911959

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Memories & condolences

Community Involvement

Volunteered for

Volunteer of

Intersections International

Charity
Volunteer of

The Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation

Charity

Favorites

What were Spencer's favorite performances to watch?
Fela!, The Lion King, and any seasoned stand up comedian
Fela!, The Lion King, and any seasoned stand up comedian
Fela!, The Lion King, and any seasoned stand up comedian
What were Spencer's favorite games to play?
Wii TGA Golf, Scrabble, Pictionary, Jenga, and Chess.
Wii TGA Golf, Scrabble, Pictionary, Jenga, and Chess.
Wii TGA Golf, Scrabble, Pictionary, Jenga, and Chess.
What were Spencer's favorite songs or musical artists?
He loved talented musical artists from Nina Simone to Michael Jackson. He had very …
He loved talented musical artists from Nina Simone to Michael Jackson. He had very eclectic t…
He loved talented musical artists from Nina Simone to Michael Jackson. He had very eclectic taste in various genres th…
What were Spencer's favorite artists or styles of art?
He appreciated black artists and took a liking to art that was jazz influenced or re…
He appreciated black artists and took a liking to art that was jazz influenced or reminded him…
He appreciated black artists and took a liking to art that was jazz influenced or reminded him of his heritage. He als…

Timeline

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Born

January 3rd, 1939
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Organized the singing group the Dials

1953
Providence, RI
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Graduated from high school

1957
Hope High School, Hope Street, Providence, RI

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Other key details

Cause of death

Natural causes

Method of disposition

Cremation

Funeral services provided by

Perry Funeral Home, Inc.

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Mr. Spencer "Torch" Holden