Cliff Holm died of liver disease in his home in Sonoma on Friday, March 23, 2001.  He graduated from Prospect HS, where he was a member of the school marching and symphonic bands. After high school, he was one of the original members of the Mt. Prospect Community Band, and went on to study music at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago.  He spent four years playing the trumpet on cruise ships and traveling around the world.  In 1991, he settled in Sonoma, where he formed Take Two, with Mr. Holm on trumpet and a pianist.  In 1999, he formed the Sonoma Symphonic Band, which he conducted.  At the same time, Mr. Holm, while visiting family, served as the conductor of the Mt. Prospect Community Band.  The Mt. Prospect Band played Mr. Holm's original composition "The Throne Room" based in the first Star Wars movie.  "The band members still remember that first rehearsal when Cliff came in carrying a Light saber," said Ralph Wilder, band director of the Mt. Prospect Community Band and former band director at Prospect High School.  "I've never known anyone of all the students I've had . . .who had more of a drive and love to make music."  Mr. Holm is survived by his father John, brothers Tim and Matthew, and his grandmother.  Service was held at First United Methodist, 1903 E. Euclid,  in Arlington Heights.  

Excerpted from the Chicago Tribune, Saturday, April 28, 2001.