Arthur T. Houlihan, Jr.
Arthur T. Houlihan, Jr., a one-time resident of Whitefish, died on June 18, 2013 in Bonita Springs, Fla.
Born in 1929, he graduated from Admiral Farragut Academy in 1947 and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1951. He earned the rank of First Lieutenant and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951-53.
A wizard with words and marketing ideas, he had a successful career in advertising sales with ALCOA, Family Circle, Sports Illustrated, and J. Walter Thompson, where he was the international representative in Brazil from 1960-63.
In 1963, he began to develop A.T. Houlihan, Inc., a residential real estate brokerage firm in Westchester County, NY. He expanded the company from a single office — that his father, Arthur T. Houlihan Sr., had started — to a network of offices, and became the largest real estate firm in Westchester.
In addition, he added an insurance agency, land development firm, construction firm, and travel agency. Most operations merged with Lawrence Management in 1982 to form Houlihan/Lawrence, Inc.
He was never afraid to speak his mind, flirt with attractive women, or add garlic to a recipe. Besides his love of the outdoors, he will be long remembered for his signature fruit pancakes, obsession with Miracle Whip, inimitable resourcefulness, exuberant sense of humor, and passion for travel.
He excelled at telling masterful jokes with complicated accents, mixing Nor’easters, and playing platform tennis — he became senior national champion in 1996.
He was predeceased by his wife, Joyce Hopes Houlihan; and his longtime companion, Norma “Nori” Hoffman. He is survived by his three children, Joy and Richard of Bonita Springs, Fla., Tom and Myla of Boulder, Colo., and Christina and Bill of Savannah, Ga. In addition, he leaves behind his sister, Gerri Houlihan of Tallahassee, Fla.; four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many Montana friends.
A family memorial will be held at his log cabin in Whiting, Maine on Aug. 25. Please raise a glass at sunset in his honor.