Diane Holditch-Davis Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

MOORESVILLE: Diane Holditch-Davis, Ph.D., B.S.N., FAAN, passed away on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at Novant Prebyterian Hospital, Charlotte, NC. She was surrounded by her 2 children, Kimberly and Kevin, and husband Mark of 49 years. Diane was born September 5, 1951, in Pasadena, California, to Stan and June Holditch. Although being the oldest of 4 children forced her into childcare and teaching at a young age, she was a natural. From teaching students at UNC and Duke, to raising her 2 children and countless cats (too many) teaching was her destiny. One of Diane’s sayings was “think about how many great things we could do if no one worried about who got credit”. A teacher at heart, she saw her greatest professional accomplishment as her student’s accomplishments, successes, and the amazing things they have and will contribute to the world. You’d never know by talking to her but she had a few accomplishments of her own. For over 20 years, she taught at UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Nursing, where she became a Kenan Distinguished Professor of Nursing and Director of UNC’s Doctoral and Post-Doctoral programs. Not to be outdone (by herself), she was persuaded to join Duke University’s School of Nursing in 2006, where she had earned her BSN and met her husband Mark, 35 years prior. At Duke, she was challenged to build the Office of Research Affairs, where she mentored faculty and staff. In 2007, she was named Associate Dean for Research Affairs, where her efforts helped lead Duke to being a top ten Nursing Research Institution. Retiring in 2015, she was honored as the Marcus E. Hobbs Professor Emirtera. In “retirement” she continued to mentor PhD students and faculty, and reviewed journal papers while watching Animal Planet or Hallmark movies in the background. In taking breaks from “retiring” she fostered kittens (lots of kittens), and traveled the world with her husband. Family vacations were always a highlight and she never passed up a chance to brag about her two grandkids. Her favorite part of retirement was spending time with her husband, kids and grandkids where making cookies was a requirement, not an option. After beating diabetes, breast cancer, and heart failure throughout the years, she continued to be stubborn, defiant, strong willed, and unwilling to give up until the end. In lieu of flowers, direct memorial gifts to: Holditch-Davis Family PhD Student Research endowment at https://www.gifts.duke.edu/mem/Holditch-Davis or via check to: Duke University & mail to: ADR, Box 90581, Durham NC 27708. Memorial service will be: Friday, July 8th at 1 PM At: Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club 3001 Cameron Boulevard Durham, NC 27705

Tributes

Diane Holditch-Davis

September 5, 1951 - June 25, 2022