In Memoriam – Hollye Atwood

We mourn the loss of our friend, partner and colleague Hollye Stoltz Atwood, who passed away unexpectedly on July 17, while recovering from a recent surgery in Durham, North Carolina. 

Hollye earned her Juris Doctor from the Washington University School of Law in 1973, where she was Order of the Coif, served as comments editor on the Washington University Law Quarterly and later served as president and secretary of the School of Law Alumni Association, as a member of the association’s Executive Committee, as a member of the Tyrrell Williams Lecture Committee and as membership chair for the School of Law’s William Greenleaf Eliot Society.  She was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington University in 1999.

Hollye, who spent her entire 50+ year legal career at the firm, was a highly accomplished and deeply respected attorney, becoming the first female partner at legacy Bryan Cave in 1983.  She was a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee, now known as the Board, from 1995 to 1999.  She was also the co-chair of the Firm’s Diversity Committee.  Holly practiced in the areas of employment litigation and counseling, administrative agency practice and policy development and counseling, and continued to practice until her death. 

In addition to her dedication to the firm, Hollye was also known for her generous pro bono work and served as a trusted advisor to many, while also participating on the boards of several area organizations during her career.  She served on the boards of the Girl Scout Council of Greater St. Louis, St. Louis Bar Association Foundation, John Burroughs School, St. Michael’s School, Noonday Club and Sherwood Forest Camp. 

Beyond her profession, Hollye was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, had a deep love of reading and watching films, collecting antiques, driving sports cars, needlepointing, great food, and intellectual conversation.

Hollye is survived by her loving daughter Katherine ‘Kate’ Stolz Hammer (Josh) and son Jonathan ‘Jon’ Robert Atwood (Sara), her sisters Robyn Stolz Walker and Andrea Stolz LaBarge (Craig), as well as her two adoring grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Hollye had been a lifelong St. Louisan, only moving in the past year to Durham, NC to be close to the Hammer family where she treasured every moment with her grandchildren.

Hollye will forever be loved and remembered by her dear family, friends, and colleagues as being unendingly selfless, caring and compassionate, genuine, humble, and fiercely loyal, and she will be missed by many.  Please keep Hollye’s family and her many friends at the Firm in your thoughts and prayers.