June 15, 2021 7:56 pm
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HOLYOKE, Mass. (AP) Holyoke Soldiers’ Home trustees will reopen the search for a new superintendent to lead the facility that was devastated by the coronavirus in the spring of 2020 after their first choice confirmed Tuesday that he will not take the job.
Trustees in April selected Rick Holloway, administrator of the Idaho State Veterans Home in Boise, to lead the Massachusetts veterans’ care center.
Last month he said he was reconsidering because of family concerns, but left the door slightly open.
That is no longer the case.
“For now, it’s off the table. Which is too bad, because I wanted to make that move more than anything I’ve wanted in a long time,” Holloway, 62, told Masslive.com. “It’s a beautiful part of the Unites States and I could see myself being at home there.”
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Holyoke Soldiers Home Superintendent Pick Won t Take The Job
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Rick Holloway, trustees’ pick for Holyoke Soldiers’ Home superintendent, backs off taking job, citing family concerns
Updated 8:51 PM;
HOLYOKE Rick Holloway, the Soldiers’ Home trustees’ pick to lead the state-run facility in the aftermath of a deadly COVID-19 outbreak, has backed off accepting the position, citing family concerns.
The trustees voted to offer Holloway the job in early April and Holloway accepted. Now, Holloway, administrator for a state veterans home in Idaho, said having two grandchildren on the way forced him to pull back on a start date.
“This is really disappointing. I was really excited to make this transition,” Holloway said, adding that he flew to Western Massachusetts last week to tour the facility and meet with Gov. Charlie Baker as well as scope out his prospective new hometown.