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Miriam Fuchs Holzman was born in New York City on October 31, 1949, and lived most of her young life in the borough of Queens, where she attended Newtown High School, and then received her BA in English at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1970, her MA in English at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1972, and her PhD in English literature at New York University in 1979. She began her teaching career in Hawaii as a Visiting Assistant Professor of English at the Manoa campus of the University of Hawaii in the mid 1980s. She was hired on tenure track in 1989, and was promoted to the rank of associate professor in 1993, and to full Professor in 2003. Her scholarly interests were in 20th century modernist British and American literature and life writing. She was the author of The Text is Myself: Women's Life Writing and Catastrophe (Wisconsin 2004), and the co-editor of four other books on topics ranging from the administration of Study Abroad programs to women's experimental fiction in the 20th century, as well as numerous scholarly essays and articles. For nearly two decades Miriam served as Vice President of the Biographical Research Center at the University of Hawaii, as well as an editor of their internationally acclaimed journal, Biography. She also headed the English department's Honors Program in the '90s while teaching a wide range of courses from Freshman English to graduate courses in modernist literature and biographical studies. Acclaimed as a teacher of exceptional skill with a rare ability to engage and challenge students, she won in quick succession the three most prestigious teaching awards the University offers: the Frances Davis Teaching Award at the undergraduate level; the College of Languages, Linguistics, and Literature Award for Excellence in Teaching at the Manoa level; and the University of Hawaii Board of Regents Award for Excellence in Teaching at the system level. Beyond Manoa, Miriam shepherded three classes of Manoa students through Study Abroad semesters in London and Paris (twice), facilitated a community book club ("The Bookies") for more than two decades, and was a skilled and dedicated paddler for many years with the Lanikai Canoe Club.
Miriam died in Honolulu on November 20, 2021 after a heroic two decade struggle with cancer. She was predeceased by her husband Alan Holzman, and is survived by many Holzmans on Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island, by her brother Seymour Fuchs of Freehold, New Jersey, and by her partner Dr. Glenn Stahl of Kaneohe. She leaves countless former students and colleagues and friends who admired and loved her. Our loss is great. May her memory be a blessing.
Arrangements Provided By: Hosoi Garden Mortuary
