Ken Holland Memorial Fund
Kenneth Brooks Holland epitomized the son every parent could envision – handsome, smart, athletic and a smile which lit up every room he entered. Tragically, his life was taken from his parents, Bob and Betsy and sister Jennifer, on September 8, 1989 when he died of injuries sustained 3 weeks earlier after a driver broadsided his jeep.
Ken attended Downers Grove South High School where he won the prestigious three sport award after participating in football, basketball and tennis. In his senior year, he captained both the football and basketball teams. He was on the homecoming court for 4 years and was elected to the National Honor Society. After graduation from DGS in 1988, he decided to attend DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana where his parents had met. Ken played defensive back his freshman year and won MVP for the Monon Bell game against arch rival Wabash College. His coach, Nick Mourousis predicted that he would be the best DB DePauw had ever seen.
Bob Holland (Ken’s father) got involved with Young Hearts for Life in 2013 when a doctor friend suggested he might enjoy being on the Board of Directors. Bob and Betsy have supported this great cause with contributions and have sponsored 3 screenings at Downers Grove South, where all four grandchildren attended. Over 2,700 students were tested, five of whom were diagnosed with conditions associated with sudden cardiac death. The last sponsorship at DGS was September 2019. Their daughter, Jennifer Leigh Madison has not only made contributions from Ken’s memorial fund at DuPage Foundation but has volunteered at numerous schools as a “tester” and technician.
Though it has been 28 years since Ken’s death, we hope people will continue to remember him by giving to this memorial fund at YH4L. EKGs help save the lives of young people in our communities.
