Jane Dalton Holly, the first woman attorney at Duane Morris and the former Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association passed away on December 20, 2025, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
A longtime resident of Chestnut Hill, Jane was born in Cleveland, Ohio and attended the Hathaway Brown School and Smith College where she participated in choral groups and played field hockey. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Jane worked for over forty years at Duane Morris where she was the Firm’s first woman lawyer and eventually became partner. Jane specialized in employment law and other administrative law matters. In particular, she excelled in representing law firms, corporations, educational institutions and other high-profile employers in all manner of employment disputes.
In 2007, Jane was elected Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association. She was also the former Chair of the Philadelphia Police Advisory Commission. Jane was awarded both the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Sandra Day O’Connor Award, which recognized her efforts directed at the advancement of women in the legal profession and the community, and also its Replansky Award, which recognized her contributions to and significant achievements in Philadelphia’s business community.
Jane was an avid athlete and enjoyed the outdoors. She was also an excellent water and snow skier and played tennis and squash. She was a member of the Philadelphia Cricket Club and enjoyed spending her summers on the Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada, swimming, fishing and enjoying time with family. Her 1.5-mile swim from Banana Island to Anthis Island is still the talk of the family. She also loved animals, including her many dogs that were her loyal companions over the years. Jane and her husband Tom enjoyed travelling. Jane was also an avid reader and was known for her positivity and sense of humor.
Jane was the daughter of the late Calvin B. and Evelyn C. (Hall) Dalton. Sister of Nancy Perkson (the late Howard), Joann Dalton, and brother Malcolm Dalton (Jill). Jane’s husband, Thomas L. Holly, passed just days after her. Jane is survived by her sisters Nancy and Joann and brother Malcolm. She was pre-deceased by her brother Scott Dalton. Jane and her first husband, John M. Elliott, had four children, Jack Elliott (Mary Jo), Heather Hoover (Timothy), Kirwan Elliott (Sara) and Kyle Elliott (Laura). Jane was blessed with thirteen grandchildren, who meant the world to her. Nana was always present at their graduations, games and special events and loved to schedule activities individually with her grandchildren.
Relatives and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. A visitation will be held from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. at the Emil J. Ciavarelli Funeral Homes and Crematory, 951 E. Butler Pike, Ambler, PA 19002, followed by a 10:00 a.m. Celebration of Life. Interment will be Private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Jane’s name can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Condolences may be made and memories shared at www.ciavarellifuneralhomes.com.
