Marie (Froehlich) Ruhlin

Marie Froehlich Ruhlin (1937-2025)

Marie Froehlich Ruhlin, age 88, of Hilton Head Island, SC, passed away peacefully at home on April 24, 2025, after a short illness, in the company of her husband, Richard (“Rich”) Holt, and her close family.  She is survived by Rich, her four children Peter (Holly) Ruhlin, Jeanne (David) DeMelim, Robin (Eric) Landau and Eric (Kelly) Ruhlin, her eleven grandchildren N. Welles Ruhlin, Whitney Ruhlin (Mark) Muldowney, Lydia Ruhlin (Ryan) Brady and Charlotte Ruhlin, Jillian DeMelim, Samantha DeMelim (Drew) Levin and Alison DeMelim (Ben) Dealy, Lily and H Landau, and Zachary and William Ruhlin, her great-grandchild Maeve Muldowney, her brother Anthony (Judy) Froehlich and many nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Born on January 4, 1937, Marie grew up in Baldwin, New York, where she met Robert (“Pete”) Ruhlin as a teenager.  They married in 1960, and lived in Kodiak, AK, Charleston, SC and Woodbury, NJ before settling in New Canaan, CT where they raised their children.  They had a second home on Hilton Head Island, SC.  After Pete Ruhlin’s death in 1988, she married James (“Jim”) McAndrews in 1989 and lived in Madison, CT before settling on Hilton Head Island.  Subsequent to James McAndrews’ death in 2002, she married Rich Holt in 2010 and they lived in Wexford Plantation and the TidePointe Community on Hilton Head Island.

A beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Marie’s family will remember her delicious cooking, love for hosting and entertaining, and vibrant personality.  Marie lived a full and active life and leaves behind a lifetime of cherished memories.  She will be missed by many.  A celebration of life service will be held at St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church on Hilton Head Island later this summer, with details to be shared by her family.