Flags on campus are lowered in memory of Jeanette Holden, a faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry.

Dr. Holden joined Queen’s in 1978. She oversaw the Cytogenetics Service Lab at Kingston General Hospital from 1979 until 1986 and held academic appointments in the departments of Biology and Pediatrics at Queen’s. She was director of the Cytogenetics and DNA Research Lab and the Autism Research Laboratory at Ongwanada and a professor of Psychiatry and Physiology at Queen’s since 1986.

Dr. Holden’s main research was on the genetics of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and various intellectual and behavioural disabilities, including Fragile X Syndrome and other forms of X-linked mental retardation (XLMR). Since 2001, she was program director of the Autism Spectrum Disorders – Canadian-American Research Consortium (ASD-CARC), carrying out interdisciplinary research dedicated to unravelling the mystery of ASD.

Messages of condolence can be emailed to ASD-CARC. The organization will post the messages on its website and include them in a memory book for Dr. Holden’s family.

A memorial service will be held for Dr. Holden on Wednesday, March 21. Gathering time from 3-3:30 pm. Service will begin at 3:30 pm in the auditorium of the Ongwanada Resource Centre, 191 Portsmouth Avenue, Kingston. Reception to follow.

If you have suggestions for the service, or wish to be involved, please contact Marsha Smith, Chaplain, or call (613) 548-4419 ext. 3308. If you wish to share a message, and have not already done so, please email autism.research@queensu.ca.

If you wish to make a donation, a research fund has been set up in memory of Dr. Holden to help support the Autism Research Program Dr. Holden established and devoted herself to at Queen's/Ongwanada. Cheques can be made payable to "Ongwanada, In Jeanette's Memory."