David Roger Holden passed away May 5, 2025. He was born Sept. 3, 1969, in New Jersey, the only son of Gilbert and Barbara (Garrett) Holden. He grew up in Red Bank, attending Red Bank Regional High School before graduating from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. From there, he lived in Spain and taught English for a short time before returning to the States to become a certified teacher. David was highly regarded as a teacher, coach and mentor, and he soon became an instructional leader and a consultant, sharing his knowledge with teachers at schools around the country.
In 2006, he co-founded the American Alliance for Innovative Systems, an educational consulting company with contracts nationwide, serving as CEO since 2018. He lived in San Diego upon graduation from college; he and his family moved to Nashville in 2013. He passed away unexpectedly while on a business trip to Kauai.
David was truly one of a kind, a man of many talents and passions. He collected comic books and loved to read. He was adept at learning languages and spoke several. He excelled at games, sports, trivia, and building connections with people from all walks of life. He had a talent for finding and developing talent in others, especially when they might not see it in themselves, building people up, bringing a smile to people’s faces, and somehow making you do the thing you didn’t think you could do – like learning something new. David was like a walking smile, lighting up a room instantly with his charm and charisma.
He was a visionary leader, a gifted teacher, a true friend, a supportive husband and a loving father – he leaves behind an incredible legacy of innovation, inspiration and love. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and daughters, Diana and Julia.
The article originally appeared in the November 20 – 26, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
