Dan Holohan Retires After 36 Years of Writing Magazine Columns

jumper

Some of Dan's columns were time savers and selling tools.
Give the column to a prospect and leave him to convince himself.

Thank you, Sir.

DanHolohan

Thanks to all of you. 

Leo

It seems eons ago I was forty three and got into the heating trade after a 22 career in law enforcement. I worked for a company that was organized in such a way it wasn't easy to learn. After finding the internet and doing a search on steam I found Dan's site. I remember him turning fifty and all the congratulations he received. What stood out most was the First "Wetstock" in Marlboro Mass. I had posted it was going to be great to put faces with names. That morning before it started Dan after having read my post sought me out to say hi and welcome me. That gesture meant a lot and obviously has stayed with me. Dan, thanks for all you have done and I wish you the best in your retirement.

Leo from Mass

Erin Holohan Haskell

Here's a Supply House Times article from 1986 that features Wallace Eannace's director of advertising and promotion, Dan Holohan, and his new steam seminar: https://heatinghelp.com/assets/documents/Wallace-Eannace-Newsletter-1986.pdf

Grallert

Farewell and thank you

leonz

Thank you Dan,

As a home owner with a coal stoker boiler plumbed pumping away using a steel compression tank I appreciate the work you have done that helped me.

Thompa222

About 20 years ago I was working on a steam boiler in Cambridge MA for an old lawyer who owned the building and had his offices on the upper floor. He was intrigued by what I was doing, (I was trying to make steam go to where it didn't want to go) and he told me, without telling me, that he wanted to do something that gives you that reward, the payoff of knowing that something will now work for a long time without failure. This guy could have payed for my labor 10X by just signing his name on a legal document, but he stuck around in the cob web basement until we figured it out. A couple weeks went by and the lawyer called me and said he had bought a book for me, The Lost Art Of Steam Heating. I wasn't able to get it from him, and moved on from that job. Now I work for a city outside of Boston and I have nine "pork chop" boilers I am responsible for. The other day, an old timer, who was retired from the plumbing trade and volunteering with the elections dept at city hall asked me, "what do you do with DPW?" I said I take care of the steam boilers... his eyes lit up and he said "I have a book for you!"

Thanks for the stories Dan!

Fred

Congratulations Dan! Enjoy the next chapter of your life!!!

Dale_3

Dan - Thank you for delivering your knowledge in such an understandable way to anyone that would listen. Not long ago I ran across a hat (Wet Heads/Warm Hearts) in my basement that made me think about how long I have been learning from you. You sharing your knowledge has encouraged me to have that same attitude throughout my career. (NOT that I'm anywhere near your knowledge level) That in turn has helped me simply be a better person. Enjoy what you want to enjoy and rest assured you have left and indelible mark on me and everyone you have interacted with. May God's blessings be upon you.

MikeL_2

Erin Holohan Haskell said:

Here's a Supply House Times article from 1986 that features Wallace Eannace's director of advertising and promotion, Dan Holohan, and his new steam seminar: https://heatinghelp.com/assets/documents/Wallace-Eannace-Newsletter-1986.pdf

 Thank for sharing this article, Erin. It explains the transitional period I was caught in where no one I worked with could answer all the questions I had about boilers and connected systems. 
 

tommyboy1

Dan , I want you to know you and TLM made me a better person . The love and generosity you have shared in every word IS significant and touches us every day. 

You are “ the best moving part “ of every steam system I have had the pleasure to know . I/we have been blessed by you both . Best Regards Always my friend Tom Check

pecmsg

Enjoy the time with your daughters and grandkids, you’ve earned it. 

Best part is giving the grandkids everything mom and dad said no too!

nekdahl

This makes me sad and happy at the same time; sad that there won't be any new Holohan stories to read and happy that you are taking time for your own journey now. I use your writings on a regular basis to train new hires here at Dawson Company, we are the B&G/Lochinvar Rep here is SoCal and they way you wrote your books makes it so easy for the non-engineer customer service person to "Get It" when it comes to hydronics and steam. Thank you for making my job that much easier to accomplish. And, I want to say that I feel that I met Gil Carlson virtually by reading your stories about him. He retired the year I started here at Dawson so I never had the opportunity to meet him in person when I went back to B&G for Little Red School House classes. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

awaltiii

Thank you Dan for your wonderful writings. I never had a grandfather (I'm 74). But, when I read your stories, I feel like my grandfather is talking to me. Godspeed Dan. Aw

Mad Dog_2

"And now...the End is near.. and I face the final curtain..." Elvis My Way..The Dichotomy of Life...The Salt, the Sugar, the bitter the sweet...Dan..:  "You've have run 🏃‍♂️ the race...you have fought the good fight!!" Timothy    Love 💘 you, man! Mad Dog 🐕 

Ironman

@DanHolohan
Thanks for all you’ve done for this industry and the people in it. Only God knows the extent of your labors.

Enjoy your rest, but please stay around here on the Wall.

kev

Thank you, Dan. I was there from the early days and you made me a better person in more ways than you know.

CastIronGuy

Dan & Erin,

Starting out in sales around 1987 - Dan Holohan was a breath of fresh air to a young sales guy wanting to learn more about our trade and offer more value to his growing customer base. Working for a wholesaler in Scranton, PA we all started hearing whispers of a book called the LOST ART of STEAM and a charismatic guy that would come do seminars on these topics. 

Somehow this young energetic, story teller came
to the Scranton / Wilkes-Barre area and filed every venue he booked, and sold that maroon colored book called TLAOS...he was groundbreaking because he not only taught, but he made something that was very dry(like steam should be) be very interesting because of his way of teaching (engagement)....

Back then we were so grateful and absorbed every word he uttered, because we knew it could help us, and back in those early days you could pick up the phone and call Dan on the phone (for you young people a phone is something u can talk to each other on) - Dan would pick up and weather he remembered you or not it was like talking to your best friend from Long Island!!!

Dan, I am so very sorry for the loss of your lovely Marianne, anyone you talked to, read your books, or was in the "Wall" knew the women behind the steam guy form Long Island. Please know you, Marianne, and your girls are in our continued prayers. 

I will speak for myself by saying I for one will surly miss opening our trade magazines and finding your article, but your legacy will last forever because you made all of us smarter, questions what is that and what does is do & for gods sake do not remove it from that system, or the point of no
pressure change, or the use of funny pictures or videos in your seminars. 

You changed our industry for the better, and I know I'll be recommending all your books to the younger generation as I become one of the old guys in our industry. 

On behave of all that love you, and are greatful you and Marianne came into all of our lives. 

Thanks for sharing yourself with all of us. 

Jim 

Words_from_Woody

The construction writers community, of which I was privileged to be a member for 25 years, was a closeknit group back in the day. We all knew each other, and no one was more personally beloved than Dan. There were a lot of very talented individuals writing about the industry, but we had one thing in common: We all wanted to write like Dan. We still do.

Have a long, happy and healthy retirement, my friend.

Woody (Words from Woody)

detroitslumlord

1993 bought my 2nd battle scarred Detroit apartment building. the 1st was well maintained and turn key. The next was out of a scary movie. Forclosure with squaters and a drugs flowing in and out of the building. Water poured out of the 1 million BTU Burnham when I went to fire it up. So I Bought a 700,000 BTU Utica boiler. Installed from scratch it but was lost on the mechanics. Found The Lost Art of Steam Heating and went to total of 3 seminars in Detroit. Still have a "Dead Men" banner from the last one. Without Dan and his book I would never have made it. Vaporstats, down firing boiler, and all the tricks. Two pipe systems with thermostats. Dan educated me. It was a great ride by a guy who cared to make it fun to learn all this. The guns shots daily did not matter because I cut the gas bill in 1/2 ! ( added insulation to the attic, where there was NONE from 1927) Gas company came out with metal detectors to follow the gas line. They thought we were stealing gas ! Saving money and learning a lot while having fun. Thank you Dan for all your help especially for all us low budget inner city guys like me. You are absolutely the best in the steam heat world ! Thank you very, very much.

JUGHNE

I searched my files and found what may have been my first Dan Holohan clipping, of which I have saved many.

It was from "Contractor-Holohan at Large", entitled "Doc Feeney and the trickle-down principle". February 1997.

All of your columns were read and many saved.

Finally there was a presentation within, what we consider here in Nebraska to be reasonable driving distance, merely 900 miles round trip. It was in Andover, MN on August 18, 2015.
I make the trek up there and was trilled to be present.

I was the nerd in the front row, the only one who asked any questions.
Everyone else there were sent by their companies.
They did not know what opportunities they missed out on by not being more involved.

At break time we had a glass of wine together and I mentioned that a Wethead cousin of mine had commented that whenever he tried to study hot water hydronics from books full of formulas he needed a pot of coffee. I agreed on that but we both agreed that to read any of Dan Holohan's books we could open a bottle of wine while doing so.....this brought an unforgettable smile to your face.

The point being that your method of writing was contusive to relaxed study.
And I have mentioned that my wife (a boiler widow) would look for your articles in all of the journals.

Again, God bless you and family in your retirement.

DanHolohan

I love you all. You touch my soul with these memories. Thanks. 

Mad Dog_2

I learned alot from all those Plumbing & Mechanical Columnists, many of whom _ were part of the Dan Holohan Sphere of Influence - Dan inspired them, encouraged them, got them started with his powerful connections & Influence. Like my Favorite Generals Pershing, Patton and Mac Arthur, Dan could see far ahead of all us...through the Smoke & Fog of War....clearly across the Battlefield of Life, the Industry, The World. The man is a sage, a seer, an American Heating Industry Treasure.

Whenever I got my new issue of P & M, I found Dan's Column....FIRST...all else followed. When he left for a few years, I barely opened P & M mag. I once told Dan at one of our B.K.Sweeney's (No relation to me, but I bounced in their Legendary Long Island Pubs, and swilled copious amounts of their beer 🍺 👌 😀 😎) "Therapy" Life Session Coaching sessions, that he was every bit the writer as Long Island 🏝 Newsday Legend, Ed Lowe and NY Daily News Icon Jimmy Breslin...he blushed and said, "I wish!!!."  

To me and our industry, Dan Holohan is OUR Ed Lowe, Jimmy Breslin, a Writer in the class of Steinbeck & Hemingway....Yes....he IS that pertinent. Mad Dog 🐕 

Mad Dog_2

Mad Dog_2

In the Pantheon of American Literary Royalty......Mad Dog 🐕 

Mad Dog_2

All but Papa Hemingway are Native Sons of New York!!!  Mad Dog 🐕 

reggi

From the Sunday_Dispatch_Sun__Jun_30__1991
Pittston Pa

"Interesting , educationial and successful..
Steam without Tears " 2 Day Steam Heat Seminar with...... ( the guy at the end )

DanHolohan

Gosh. Thanks. ❤️

Tinman

It’s getting close to 30 years since you put my career on a different path. 5-6 years later, hydronics was all I did. I can’t thank you enough for that. 

Be well. 
Enjoy the grandkids. 

Thank you, Dan. 

CastIronGuy

reggi said:

From the Sunday_Dispatch_Sun__Jun_30__1991
Pittston Pa

"Interesting , educationial and successful..
Steam without Tears " 2 Day Steam Heat Seminar with...... ( the guy at the end )

I remember that day well - 3 very well respected men in that pic - Steve Weinberger - fantastic person and great business man - Tommy McLane - RJ Walker heating guru - and u know about the guy on the end. 

Mad Dog_2

I love the Evolving Hair-do and styles of Dan Holohan through the years...my favorite was the Johnny Unitas Flat Top...Mad Dog 🐕