Dear Reader

Rich Davis_2

Dam, I enjoyed your talk years ago in Salem, Va. and meeting you and your wife and telling me that your daughter was at UVA and you were visiting her after heading home from the seminar. I still ask folks what people ice skating in Central Park in early 1900's have in common. I'm pushing 80 and my brain is mostly foggy at times but there are still things that stick in it and meeting you is one of them. Thanks Dan and good luck in your future.

Sal Santamaura

Well, Dan, you've now defined your non-heating passions that I encouraged you to pursue without delay in Erin's other thread about your retirement. Those passions are your daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren in Maryland. You have a beautiful soul, Mr. Holohan.

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

If you ever come out to the Bay Area to visit your brother, look me up and I'll take you out to dinner or just a nice drive. I promise not to talk about hydronics or politics.

Antique_Engine

Dan, I hope you have many years to enjoy your retirement. I already told you and Erin my story about how I went out and bought your first book years ago and used it to look like a hero in the eyes of my In-Laws in Brooklyn after they hired a plumber to move their steam boiler. Since then, I've now read 10 of your books cover to cover and I have and will continue to recommend them to anyone who will listen to me. Again, I wish you all the best.

jeant

Dear Dan,
With yours and the lovely Marrianne's support all these years, your contributions and legacy to all the young'uns, will go on forever. The bridges you built for us, to the men and women long ago, who did back breaking work and became, through your books and columns alive, have reached forward to us from the past, with help and their own genius, creativity, and blessed smarts, to help us all today. I am grateful for this lasting legacy and yours and the lovely Marriane's willingness to persist at all costs, in your mission, a gift to us all. God Bless You.

DanHolohan

Thanks to all of you. I will love you forever. 

Danny_Jr

Dan, I don't usually read posts. But today I knew I had to. I read every last one and you are deserving of them all. May God comfort you in this season of life. And may you impact you kids and grandkids toward a long-lasting legacy. Thank you for all you have done for our industry.

Dan Wood
3rd Generation Wet head.

Anthony Menafro

Dan, I have been with you since 1990 and you taught me so much in my growth in the heating industry. I feel for your loss of TLM and had the pleasure of meeting her in 2008/2009 and she was such a warm soul. I will miss your monthly connections and wish you the best of every moment in your retirement. Thank you for being a ray of light in a dark world. Anthony Menafro

GW

Dear Dan, I first learned about you at the very end of the last century. Up until that point, I just knew how to put things together, plumbing, and heating. I was pretty good at my job, I would like to think. I was barely scraping by though. A local vendor was bringing me to court for $20g I owed them. I read something on the Wall about advanced hydronics, radiant, heating, I was intrigued. I thought I was done learning, so to speak. As I learned more from your website, my horizons began to expand. The Internet could teach me some good stuff. Sadly, I think I’ve forgotten more that I’ve learned this point, but those beginning years got me climbing. Now the business is very healthy and I get calls from the PE firms here and there. My rental properties could cover my living expenses at this point. I still love heating and when I turn on a boiler for the first time I just can’t leave the room for a bit of time, I just watch the boiler do its thing. Thanks for the memories, Gary

pedmec

Thank you for all you have done for the trade. We are all better for your contribution. For you to share your knowledge it has made countless techs like myself a much better technician after reading your books than before. Your gain financially also provided me the same opportunity financially. It made me in demand. I gained the power of knowledge that would have been next to impossible to obtain before the internet. When i read the lost art of steam heat when it was in the original print i could barely scrape two nickels together. By reading the lost art of steam heat i was able to become one of the go to guys. I was the man in my area.

The funny thing is i read the book so much the pages all started falling out. I had to reorder a new one that was spiral bound. Which was well worth it I might add. So i thank you so much and wish you nothing but the best. You made my life a little easier

EBEBRATT-Ed

Don't know what to say. I attended about 4 seminars, have probably 6 or 7 books and have read countless articles and have been hanging out here for around 20 years I think.

Thank you, Dan. You had a profound effect on my career (for the better). So glad I found you and this site. I wish I had found it sooner I would have made fewer mistakes.

I traveled as far as a couple of hours to some of those seminars.

When I have trouble on a job one thing always sticks in my head. "Get inside the pipe" if you were steam or water what would you do? I always remember that. Thank you, Dan, for all you have done and continue to do.

Jack Getkin

I had the opportunity to participate in your steam heating presentation done in the Gold Room of the Allegheny County Courthouse here in Pittsburgh, PA in mid 1999. It was a very enjoyable and entertaining evening. At the time, I had about 25 years experience as a plumber and HVAC technician here in the greater Pittsburgh area. I turned 69 this past September and, like you, am mostly retired after nearly 50 years in the industry. I still do some part-time work including working 3 days a week in the Plumbing Department of a family owned hardware store in Mt. Lebanon. I own at least six of you books including Pumping Away which was my first. Each book was an enjoyable read and all offered extremely useful and valuable information I was able to put in good use. Like all of the others, I will miss reading your articles but I fully support and appreciate your desire to transition to full-time retirement. I was saddened to learn of the passing of your lovely wife and I am wishing you all the best in your new life at your new home. The folks in "the big apple" will most certainly miss having you around. Take care my friend!

MarkReynolds1

A wonderful story.
I found your "Lost Art" accidentaly, when I was desparate to get a one pipe steam system in a 4800 square foot home in Detroit working. The "fancy" contractors in the suburbs wouldn't work in Detroit then, I couldnt find anyone who could give a clear answer to my problems, and the internet was an infant. Thanks to your book I fixed the system myself. My hats off to you SIR! Enjoy retirement.

TomP

Dear Dan. Thank you for making the teaching come alive with the stories that you tell so well. Albert Einstein said that if you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. Thanks for taking us along for the adventures.

BruceSteinberg

I, a long with so many others ,would not have half the knowledge that I have if it weren't for you Dan. So admired, so respected and so loved. I wish nothing but the best to you in your retirement.

izhadano

Dear Dan:
You are an inspiration for my endeavour in vacuum heating, wise advisor and finally a good friend. I cherish the memory of you and Marianne visiting my house, your help and knowledge you sheared so generously. Wish you many years of happy retirement and hope to see you when you visiting MA next time.
Warm regards,
Igor

Steamfighter49

Dan
Doubt you remember the young man you met a very long time ago at a seminar in Buffalo but he’ll always remember you.
The first thing you taught me was not to sit in the front row. But all the rest has been fun, informative and so very useful as I became a better Steamfitter, tech and contractor as well as a Holohan disciple. It was great to have you mentally along as I figured out steam systems.
I will continue to sing your praises and reread your books.
We’ll all miss you but wish you the best as you always gave us.
Enjoy your retirement but we all would enjoy an occasional educational story.

kapow

Dan,
Just another weekend tinkerer here. Would have been lost without you. Thanks for the insight and the fun along the way. Enjoy, Kevin

Rocky_3

God speed, Dan, God speed. Will miss your wit and insight. A warm, and heartfelt, "thank you" from chilly Fairbanks, Alaska.

Mad Dog_2

You are one if my main Life Coaches Dan...I'm a blessed to have been associated with you as A Dutch Uncle, Personal Fambly Friend, confidante, Confessor and The Person would smack
Some sense in to a hardened Drill Sgt like me...pointed out the Beautiful flowers along the way...the fleeting times with the kids..the Wife..how not to squander that..to supp on it and use it to fuel your fires 🔥..You inspired this Somewhat hurt, wounded, wild and angry young man to Dream big...go deep in to This trade...explore, be bold, try things that no one else is willing to do..You wrote about it and then I set out to do it..in my own style. You gave us ALL a platform, a soapbox, a Rostrum! In which to express ourselves pretty-damned Freely.

I grew up a Catholic School Boy...my parents struggled as well. But like you and TLM, Barbara and I had the Eye if the Tiger 🐅..We were gonna make it happen....regardless of the struggle (The struggle is the best part of the trip folks...The Grind..The 🍖 Meatgrinder like General Patton Talked about .

One of us has to write a Book about The Life & Times of Dan Holohan and how he changed and educated and embraced & celebrated an industry like no other than I can recall...Can you? This man needs his due. The big world Outside of our industry needs to know this man's, impact, Cult-of-Personality (The good kind!) influence, his Legacy. I plan to dedicate at least one long chapter of my Book-in-progress to Dan as well as countless references to him and his sayings & visions.

It is a very gratifying feeling to lay bleeding and hurt on the Battlefield of Life after a long & Glorious fight...catching your breathe, getting back on the Hard Road again...
"I am hurt...but I am not slain...I will lay me down and bleed awhile and then I will rise and fight again!!" Lord Carleton

You're on the Rise Again Pal...Mad Dog 🐕

Peter Rozano

Dan:

My deep condolences for the loss of your soul-mate.

I have been following you since 1993, when I bought a row house in Hoboken that had a 2-pipe steam system. At the time, I didn't even know there was such a thing as a 2-pipe steam system. But I was told that the prior owners paid very high heating bills.

I had a the house renovated before we moved in. Changes were made in the heating system. I knew the plumber was screwing up but didn't know why. So I fired the plumber and was on my own. I asked many questions of anyone who may have answers. That's how I learned about a book called "The Lost Art of Steam Heating" by a guy called Holohan. Out of sheer desperation, I ordered the book.

You were my game changer. It turned out that I really liked steam heating and just sucked in all the knowlege. Your book gave me the confidence to reconfigure all my near-boiler piping by myself. I learned that my steam traps had not been changed since 1940. Although I didn't have to, I even re-converted the system back to vapor-vacuum (young plumbers came to my house because they never saw a functioning vapor-vacuum system). When I was done, that system purred like my "silent friend" (just like your book said). And I knew enough to marvel at what all the Dead Men did before me.

Because I could, I branched out to hot water heating. This came in handy when, 25 years later, I moved into a small farm in western NJ heated with hot-water radiators. The house is over 200 years old and I marvel at all the additions and retrofits added since then. My main contribution to this on-going history is a hot water system being pumped away from the boiler.

I took your seminars (and identified your building in Seattle because it looked like the Met Life Building in NYC where I had worked). I helped many friends and should probably have earned a commission on your book sales.

In my small corner of the world, you made a difference. I am a lawyer by trade and a tradesman by heart. And you were the giver of The Sacred Knowledge. Now my sensei will be sorely missed.

Good luck in retirement with your family.

Peter Rozano

Steve_Wheels

Dan, I wrote about 17 paragraphs that got lost when I logged in. I'll paraphrase... THANK YOU! You were an influencer long before there was such a thing! I truly appreciate you, what you have done for the word and what you have done for me personally. I look forward to having a Guinness with you in the future. Wheels

Roger

Dan,
Thank you for all, my friend. Your words and your marriage and great love of The Lovely Marianne are enduring and shine as an example for all of us. You are truly blessed with her love, which of course lives on, especially in your heart and in the lives of all your wonderful family. May your days with your family and the joys of your grandkids raise your heart and lift your spirits to help you live retirement to the fullest. And if the occasional inspiration with steam, hydronics, or the human spirit grabs hold of you, we will all welcome your knowledge, wit, and insight.
Be well and look forward to the future joys that await!
Roger

zooba

Your book saved me so much time and trouble. I bought a house with a 121 year old steam system, went in knowing nothing about steam. I read The Lost Art cover to cover and was able to get the system humming with little effort. The prior owners had neglected it and, by their own records written on the wall, were adding a gallon of water a day to the system! It also heated unevenly. Now my house is toasty even on the coldest night so far (high 20s). I love the steam radiators. They're so much better than forced air. And what other heating system still works after 121 years with the same piping and same radiators and much of the same valves? Your book probably saved the steam system from being trashed and replaced.

johnfaccio

Dan I want to thank you for helping me be a better mechanic. I have been in the trade for 49 years and in June it will be 50 years. I have followed you and your writings since the 80’s I think. To this day I still use your books as reference and knowledge. I was lucky enough to sit with you at lunch at one of your seminars and was amazed at how you held the attention of every single person at the table. You have done more for the trade than anyone has ever. Thank you my friend and your entire family. May you enjoy your retirement and your family for years and years to come. I myself will always be blessed to have been able to take advantage of all you had to share. Perhaps when we are all with the dead men we will be able to sit and share stories together but for now I just want to thank you for all the things you have shared over the years. God bless you and your family. You have made a difference in this world and I am lucky enough to have been part of it
John Faccio.

tferris

Dan I am sorry for the loss of half of your beloved wife. Thank you for your stories, how you can paint a picture with your beautiful gift of storytelling. I will miss your stories, please keep telling them to make others smile. Farewell. P.S. I am not even in the trades I stumbled upon your stories trying to figure out a steam system in my house and was hooked on your stories immediately and looked forward to them regularly.

PanchoLippincott

Elder tradesman, thank you for blessing the younger with your wisdom! I’ve only known you through your publications for a couple years, but I share this with those working for me. You’re a good example and we will miss you!

RFHolland

Dan, thank you for the poignant column. I managed a 1920 Kewanee boiler for our six-unit condominium, and depended heavily on your Lost Art book and the wisdom of Dead Men. Consequently, never once was our boiler launched into the air as depicted in your book. Thanks again.

Paul Pollets

It's not surprising that the huge outpouring of gratitude is like a tidal wave of love. So many people were helped and managed to learn more skills. I'm forever grateful and trying to wrap my brain around your absence. I have memories of you when you worked for Wallace Ennace selling B&G pumps to my father's company. 60 Minutes should do a tribute. Enjoy your well deserved time and family.

BethNorton

I'm not sure how many years I've enjoyed reading and learning from you... but more than 20 I'm certain. Thank you for so generously sharing your knowledge and wit. Retirement's pretty cool. Enjoy!

Bulldog8265

Thanks for being you Dan. I have enjoyed your writings for several years and managed to get to one of your seminars. You have helped me to better understand that thing called steam and led me through a couple of ornery hydronic systems as well.
Enjoy your Daughters and Grandkids. They are a wonderful blend of you and the Lovely Marianne.
You will see her again.

Dave Beaver

clammy

All I can do is agree w posts . Who knows what would have happen to first all the old steam systems that where and are in states of malfunction and disrepair with out the words you wrote and uncovered helping us all . . And let’s not forget pumping away ,you single handed changed the face of hydronics by explaining why and where the pump should go forever changing the industry and in my eyes saving fuel by the proper location of a silly little wet rotor pump totally amazing . Not that relocating was difficult but breaking a habit that was going on for decades ,truely a amazing accomplishment ,personally I was a push over but it is hard to change the old timers ( which I’m getting close ) but after 1 or 2 jobs there usually sold and as time goes on every one that I suggested new pump location and did they where amazed and started moving the pump to the supply ,who would have ever thought one silly book could change a whole industry . Aside from teaching us some math along the way you made us all smarter . Thank you
You also w that math taught us all about the magic of a tee and what goes come out , you made me a early p/s guru it really wasn’t that hard you gave us the math to figure it all out . Again thanks buddy
Not many including clergy ,politicians ,parole officers , motivational speakers and scientist could have had that large a impact on such a group of misfits as you have ( speaking for myself now )
You may never realize or get all the thanks and Accolade’s that you deserve rightfully but with your wit and non mechanical way of helping us wrap our minds around stuff that was not written for our kind has ,is and will be never discounted as time passes ,it will become a ancient text of knowledge for all who wish to peer and learn .
That old dan saying what goes into a tee comes out of a tee well here we go what goes out of a life in your case has been more then put in and the return to that tee is all thanks and place you in each and every life you have touched by giving the gift of knowledge accessible to all , simply amazing .
Enjoy the rewards of your labors and know that you have single handily helped thousands
Peace and good luck clammy

DanHolohan

Again, thanks for your kind words. I’m blushing. ❤️

clammy

Dan there are no writers who has explained things in such a way that we all can grasp ,it was truly a gift that you where given and every one of us have been lucky enough to have learned from you will always be in debt to you opening a door into our though process ,making myself and other better trouble shooters then we where perviously . Thanks and never shy away from compliments you deserve more then you have recieved .
Peace and good luck and thanks for everything you do and that’s a long list .
Your friend clammy

DanHolohan

❤️

OuterCapeOilguy

This must be one of the finest and most poignant farewell letters I've ever read; your years of dedication to excellence in our trade has made the world a better place. The knowledge and insights, underscored by your matchless humor, which you have shared so freely has personally "made my day" on too many occasions to list. Your loving tribute to your spouse and partner is a reminder that even in our troubled current world, love conquers all. The competent, courteous, and hard work of your daughter, Erin, on this forum is an ongoing tribute to you both as parents. May you enjoy lots of time ahead with which to enjoy the fruits of your lifelong dedication to excellence, and may you enjoy it in good health!

Brad White

The most lovely and fitting tribute.
It's been an educational and fun road, Dan. I would say a long one, but in reality it has been too short. Thank you for the education, the introduction of friends that last, and knowledge that lives.

The Lovely Marianne lives on in you, your daughters and their families, you know this and forever. Her voice, that soft New Yorker accent, handing over treasured purchases at your shows, still echoes here.
A life well-lived, well-examined, and not over by a long-shot.
Dan, I wish you peace and comfort, a gentle and engaging retirement, and a clear view of your birdfeeder, in the best of health and contentment always.

Novagen_Ed

Dan, Your professional life is something to be admired. I am an electrical engineer, who bought an 1860's house in Pennsylvania. It came with a modern oil fired steam boiler,1 pipe radiators, and sketchy heating performance overall.
HeatingHelp.com gave me the information, and confidence, to "tweak" that system and:make great improvements in comfort for the next ten years,m until we decided to build an addition, replacing the entire system with hot water (panel rads and Warm board sub floors). I'd sum up you, Mr Holohan, and the great number of helpful "Wallies," in one word: Generous. This website is a gem of a resource, due to the generosity of its members, and its founder. THANK YOU! Enjoy your retirement.
Please know that Cathie (my wife) and I are very moved by your love for your "Lovely Marianne". Your tag line "hug your kids" always brought a smile to me.......

Mad Dog_2

If I can picture Frame it this way: 
Dan Holohan like my life heroes, Beacons of Of Light through the Fog of Life, my life coaches as it were,  Vince Lombardi, **** Butkus, Generals Mac Arthur & Patton, My Father Bart III (RIP) and Older Brother Bart IV, my Mom Colleen (RIP), President Teddy Roosevelt sent a Lighting bolt ⚡ 🌩 down my spine...They dared..They dreamed,  they engaged fully...they shook people awake with their 110 % Level of enthusiasm and erudition of their given focus...Men and women like these have an energy & vibe that is hard to come by and "capture in a bottle." The just hit that chord in your soul that makes you want to March behind them and Conquer your corner of The World. 

As my grandfather Norbert W Kearns told his 3 young children that he had taken out of school 🏫 for the day in 1951 to bear witness to History:  As 5 Star General of the Army Douglas Mac Arthur drove slowly by in an open car on the yet-to-be open Van Wyk expressway in Jamaica Queens a mere 10 feet away: "TAKE A GOOD LOOK KIDS...YOU'LL NEVER SEE HIS LIKE, AGAIN...."   Thanks Dan for being one of the lightening bolts of my life!   Faithfully,  Yours, Mad Dog 🐕 

Mad Dog_2