James N. Holsen ’46

Before 1973, Washington University Professor of Chemical Engineering Jim Holsen spent five years in Afghanistan working as that college’s representative to help the U.S. Agency for International Development create a school of engineering in Kabul. He then joined a similar program in Saigon, Vietnam, sponsored by the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR). Following that, he briefly taught engineering management at UMR before the McDonnell Douglas Corp. recruited him to serve as program manager for several space-related projects.

In retirement, Jim pursued environmental issues. As a founding director of the Missouri Environmental Fund, he developed a plan for payroll contributions to environmental causes. Following the Mississippi’s devastating flood of 1993, he worked on a mayor’s committee to draft a master plan for St. Louis’ Forest Park, with the River Basin Alliance to restore wetlands and planned management of flood plains.

Although Jim died March 12, 2007, his death was not reported to Princeton until May 29, 2012. His survivors then were presumed to be his wife, Margot Mayer Best; stepchildren Victoria, Christopher, and John; and his sons from his first marriage, Jim III and David. Belatedly, ’46 thanks all for Jim’s well-lived life.