Mary Ellen Holland, 75, died at home on November 27, 2009, surrounded by her family, after a struggle with cancer that she lived, worked, and played through for 17 years. Born on September 12, 1934 in Waterbury, CT, the daughter of the late William B. Fitzgerald and Margaret (Cunning) Fitzgerald, she was a graduate of Laurelton Hall Academy in Milford, CT, and of Manhattanville College, where she majored in both mathematics and physics and was the valedictorian of the Class of 1956. After persuading the Columbia University School of Business admissions office that it should change its male-only policy, she earned an M.B.A. with honors, concentrating in finance. Her graduation coincided with the early days of financial applications of computer system analysis, which she taught herself to create. After working for several major banks and other financial institutions, she co-founded the consulting firm IQ Financial, Inc. in 1998. In 2004, IQ Financial was acquired by London-based Misys plc., where she continued her worldwide consulting practice until August of this year.

Mary Ellen divided her time between residences in Heritage Village in Southbury, CT and Berkeley, CA, so as to take full advantage of opportunities to spend time with her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her sons William, of Middlebury, CT; Francis, of Berkeley, CA, Jeremiah of Berkeley, CA, and James, of Rochester, NY; and by four grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Margaret F. Murphy, of New York City, and her brothers William, of Los Angeles, CA, and Anthony, of Watertown, CT. She was predeceased by her husband Francis K. Holland.

Long before the topic of balancing the competing demands of career and family became a subject of popular discourse, she raised four boisterous and unruly boys, nurtured and mentored countless others not related to her, and performed professionally at the highest level, sometimes commuting between Camden, ME. and New York City by precarious air transportation in all weathers. Her success in these and innumerable other endeavors was assisted by her unfailing ability to find humor in every crisis, and her talent for eliciting inspired efforts from her friends and colleagues.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in her memory to: Society for Women Engineers Scholarship Fund, 230 East Ohio St., Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60611; [email protected]/* */

Cemetery: Cemetery Not Applicable

Location: Munson-Lovetere Woodbury

Funeral: Sacred Heart Church

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10: 00 a.m. on Wednesday December 2nd at Sacred Heart Church, 910 Main St. South, Southbury. Burial will be private.

Visitation: Friends may call on Tuesday December 1st from 4: 00 p.m. to 8: 00 p.m. at the Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson - Lovetere, 2 School St.