Tara Collins Holbrook
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of my mother, Tara Collins Holbrook. She died peacefully, at home, surrounded by her family and wonderful caregiver Marilyn Madrin. She leaves behind her daughter, Elizabeth Needham (Peter Mark), her son, John Needham, and four beloved grandchildren, Cecilia Needham, Ethan Mark, Evelyn Needham and Kathryn Mark.
Tara was born on October 30th, 1937 in Haverhill Massachusetts to her parents, Kathryn and Joseph Collins. She was a lifelong learner, attended the Dana Hall School, Vassar College and earned a certificate of Business Administration from The Harvard Business School.
Tara had a passion for the investment world from an early age and was a breaker of glass ceilings. After graduating from Harvard she moved to New York and went straight to work on Wall Street. She began her career at White Weld where she met her future husband, James Needham. She liked her position there but as was telling of the times, the partners asked her to leave as they didn’t allow married couples to work together. That did not stop her. Tara’s work as a securities analyst earned her recognition on the well-respected Institutional Investor, All American Team, which was an accomplishment few women could claim at the time. Tara eventually left Wall Street to move to Connecticut with her new husband, Donald J.Kirk and her two children. She quickly turned her talents to becoming the Chair of the Board at Community Answers at The Greenwich Library and worked for the political campaign of Independent, John Anderson who was running for President. She played duplicate bridge, regularly competing in competitions. She read about the subject voraciously and took her game seriously.
Tara was a formidable athlete and excelled at diving (as a child), tennis (recreationally) and golf (seriously). She was twice the women’s club champion at the Stanwic Club in Greenwich, CT and enjoyed memberships at Loch Lomand (Scotland) where she was a founding member, and The Country Club of Fairfield. Even with these accomplishments, Tara was proudest of her work co founding the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital in Somaliland. Tara’s fundraising was of major importance in the hospital’s earliest years at a time when it was the sight of a 75% decrease in maternal mortality. The hospital continues even now to improve maternal health in Somaliland and beyond. After this stint with a portfolio approach to life, Tara decided to go back to work in a professional setting and had a long career with General Electric Pension Fund as a portfolio manager.
Tara married George Holbrook later in life and they moved to Santa Barbara in search of better weather and a new adventure. They got to know their new community by joining the Birnham Wood and The Valley Club where they played golf in beautiful and warm Montecito until George’s death in 2023. Regrettably, Tara suffered from chronic pain in her later years. She was relentless in her search for solutions that would provide relief to her debilitating symptoms. For a time, she was able to break free of the pain and live a relatively normal life.
Through all of this, Tara continued to read The NY Times, complete the daily crossword, and stay in touch with friends. She will be missed by all those who loved her and remembered by all those who knew her.
Memorial donations may be made to Friends of Edna Maternity Hospital, 95 Montgomery Street, Black Rock, CT 06605.
