From Mike McAdams:

CAL HOLDEN (83)
If you could hear taps playing Wednesday, it was for Cal Holden, who passed on to be with the Lord (Dec. 14th) after an extended battle with cancer. He was 13 days shy of his 84th birthday.

A passionate scouter for most of his life, Cal was one of the foremost collectors of boy and girl scouting memorabilia in the world. He was so well known in the business, that the US Postal Service asked him to help with the design of a stamp honoring the birth of scouting for its 1910s decade project, while Hollywood studios would ask for his help in finding period scout uniforms for movies.

There was a reason he dedicated his life to scouting, and that was because a scout helped save his life after a skiing accident in 1945. He called it a miracle, and made it his life mission to spread the virtues of scouting. Cal grew up in Holden, Mass., graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1943, moved to Ohio and worked for PPG in Barberton as a chemical engineer for 40 years. He retired in 1983, and spent the years since putting together his scouting collection. He was in the process of writing a book on Girl Scout collectibles when he passed away.

Cal was also known as the resident Doylestown historian, heading up the writing and printing of two books on the history of Doylestown, most notably the 284-page, 175th anniversary edition in 2002. He was also instrumental in starting the Rogues’ Hollow Historical Society.

Cal was a 57-year member of the Doylestown United Methodist Church, holding several positions, including adult Sunday School leader for many years. He married Frances Britton in 1945, and they raised four children at their home in Doylestown. Surviving are sons Don of Gurnee, Ill., Dick (wife Cindy) and Ed (Sally) both of Holden, Mass., and Art (Jean) of Doylestown; eight grand children and two great grand children.

In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to make a memorial contribution to The Boys Scouts of America, Great Trails Council, or the charity of their choice.