Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com AUGUST 2020 11 UNDER THE DOME Beth Holtz, 83, wife of 1986-96 head football coach Lou Holtz, died June 30 after having battled throat cancer for more than 20 years. The initial diagnosis was made in 1997, the year after Holtz stepped down as head coach following a 100-30-2 record, highlighted by the program's most recent national title in 1988 and a couple of near misses in 1989 and 1993. That rare form of cancer back then gave her a five-percent survival rate, but she beat the odds to live 23 more years despite reportedly going through 83 radiation treatments. Over the past year, she has had to rely on a feeding tube. Beth Holtz was awarded an honorary Notre Dame monogram on Sept. 13, 2008 — the same weekend a sculpture was dedicated in her hus- band's honor in the football stadium. Lou and Beth Holtz founded the Holtz Charitable Foundation in 1998, whose mission is to promote Christianity, education and charity. It has provided important funding to several causes including trade scholarships, homeless centers, Christian ministries and nearly $1 million in scholarship funding for 54 Notre Dame undergraduate stu- dents who have demonstrated financial need. In addition, they funded the renovation of cha- pels in three student residence halls and estab- lished the Liz Holtz Endowment for Excellence for Lyons Hall to provide an annual operating budget and for future needs and enhancements for resi- dents of the hall. In 2015, the couple received the Notre Dame Prize for Catholic Education. "Beth was an extraordinary human being who possessed the quiet strength necessary to support her equal, Coach Holtz," said Notre Dame assis- tant athletics director of alumni relations Reggie Brooks, who in 1992 as a senior running back finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting for a 10-1-1 Irish team. "While Coach Holtz was in the spotlight, Beth was the foundation for the Holtz family which extended beyond their four biological children to include hundreds of young men coached, mentored and cared for throughout their many stops. "She was a comforting mother for me and so many others whose mothers were miles away." Last year, Beth and Lou contributed $100,000 to the Lou's Lads Endowed Scholarship (now named the Holtz's Heroes Foundation), a need-based scholarship for the grandchildren of former Lou Holtz football players and for other students who have demonstrated financial need. Last October, Beth was honored in Florida by the Leaving Legacies Foundation with their namesake award, which recognizes personal accomplish- ments and dedication to philanthropy and service. The couple, who would have celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on July 22, has four chil- dren: Luanne; Louis "Skip" Jr., a 1987 Notre Dame graduate and the current head coach at Louisiana Tech; Kevin, a 1989 Notre Dame graduate; and Elizabeth, a 1991 Notre Dame graduate. — Lou Somogyi Our life plan community for those over the age of 62, provides residents with exceptional personalized services, a secure atmosphere and carefree luxury lifestyle – while making it possible to ease into further healthcare levels as needs change throughout retirement years. Beth Holtz: 1937-2020 Beth and Lou Holtz would have celebrated their 59th anniversary this July. PHOTO COURTESY FIGHTING IRISH MEDIA