Remembering Irwin Holzman
It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the passing yesterday of Irwin Holzman, Chairman of Reliable Credit Association, Inc., and for more than half a century a member of the American Financial Services Association. Irwin served as AFSA Chairman in 2000 and was one of the founding members of the AFSA Independents Section, serving as its Chairman in 1987. In 1989 he received the Outstanding Independent Award and in 1996 received the AFSA Distinguished Services Award. He served on the AFSA Board for nearly 30 years.
Irwin started in the consumer credit industry more than 65 years ago after serving America in the United States Army. Over the decades he built Reliable Credit into one of the most influential and enduring consumer credit lenders on the West Coast. Through good times and challenging periods of the American economy Reliable Credit was just that for the consumers and communities it served.
Irwin and Reliable were great promoters and supporters of our industry and AFSA. They led the endowment program for the AFSA Education Foundation, as well as a number of philanthropic projects in the communities where Reliable operated. On a personal level, Irwin and his bride of more than 60 years, Renee, further supported the Portland community via the Renee and Irwin Holzman Family Foundation, which since 1990 has supported a number of religious, educational and cultural programs.
Irwin leaves a legacy of leadership in the world of consumer finance, as well as in the community where he and Renee built a home for their three sons, Lee (a member of the AFSA board), Jay and Larry and their families.
In your kindness, please take a moment to remember Irwin and celebrate his life well lived, as well Renee, the entire Holzman family, and his extended Reliable Credit family.
Sincerely,
Bill Himpler
President & ECO
February 18th, 2020
