Bernard 'Ben' H. Holmes enjoyed watches, riflery, small batch bourbon and hanging with his friends
Bernard Hilbrandt Holmes, nicknamed "Ben, passed away unexpectedly on March 4, 2023. His
immediate survivors include his parents, Robert C. Holmes and Mary M. Allen, and his younger brother,
Marshall A. Holmes, who are all residents of Warner, New Hampshire. He is much missed.
Ben was born at Mountainside Hospital, which straddles the border of Montclair and Glen
Ridge, NJ, on June 14, 1989. Since the maternity wing of the hospital sits in Glen Ridge, Ben technically
was born in Glen Ridge, but his parents resided in Montclair at the time of his birth. Ben considered
Montclair his childhood home.
Early schooling for Ben was provided by the Montclair public school system, and the Winston
School in Short Hills, NJ. In 2007, Ben graduated from Montclair High School. While attending Montclair
High School, he was awarded a black belt in Karate by Shakil's School of Martial Arts. He received a
bachelor degree of applied arts and sciences in sustainable technical project management from the
Rochester Institute of Technology ("RIT") in 2013.
After graduating from RIT, Ben worked at Sturm Ruger in Newport, NH. After resigning his
position at Sturm Ruger, Ben worked as a CNC machinist at Protek in Contoocook, NH and AKA Tool in
Laconia, NH for eight years. At the time of his death, he was working on various surveys and petitions
for different interest groups.
Ben was a man of many interests. At summer camp, he took up riflery which developed into a
lifelong fascination with guns. As an adult he developed an interest in mechanical watches and small
batch whiskey. Ask Ben any question on guns, watches or bourbon and he gladly would inform you of
his opinion.
Besides his parents, and younger brother, Ben is survived by four uncles - -Jud Allen, Andrew
Holmes, William Holmes, and Kenneth Holmes, three aunts - -Kay Allen, Rachel Lussier, and Anne
Holmes, as well as eight first cousins and many friends. His cousins, Catherine and Jack Holmes, were
raised in New London and Newbury, NH and together with Ben and Marshall, enjoyed time with
Grandpa at Lake Kezar in Sutton, NH. Ben enjoyed visiting with his cousins, William and Judson Allen, in
North Carolina. His paternal and maternal grandparents, Robert F. Holmes, Lois H. Holmes, William A.
Allen, and Hazel S. Allen, as well as his step grandmother, Betty Holmes, preceded him in death.
A memorial service for Ben will be held on Monday, July 17th at 10:00 AM at the Kearsarge
Community Presbyterian Church, 82 King Hill Road, New London, NH with a reception to follow in the
church hall. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the Lake Kezar Protective Association, KLPA, P.O.
Box 141, North Sutton, NH 03260.