#NYC woman killed in Maine shark attack retired early to live dream life, pal says

The New York City woman killed by a shark in Maine had made enough money as a fashion exec to retire early — and was living the life she’d always dreamed about when she died, a pal told The Post on Tuesday.

Julie Dimperio Holowach would jet between homes along the East Coast and would have been in great physical shape when she was attacked by a great white shark while swimming with her daughter Monday, longtime friend Karen Murray said.

“She loved life,” Murray said of Holowach, 63.

“Julie ran marathons. She actually did triathlons. She was in great, great physical shape.

“She made her money, and she wanted to spend time with her family,” said the pal, who worked with Holowach in the fashion industry for years and now runs the retail shop Fivestory on Madison Avenue in Manhattan.

“She went to her homes and spent time with her kids and her husband. She had a wonderful life. She had everything she needed financially, and she had her health and her family.

“She’s got a love of life.

“She’s one of the happiest, most energetic people with the greatest disposition and zest,” Murray said of Holowach, adding that the victim had two children, a son and daughter.

“She was out frolicking with her daughter,” Murray said. “Her daughter thankfully is fine, but I can’t imagine she’ll ever be the same. I don’t how you live after that.”

Murray said Holowach, a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, was a whiz in their industry.

She said she first worked with her at designer Liz Claiborne in the early 2000s. Holowach then moved to the VF Corporation and became president of Nautica women’s wear and eventually chief of Kipling in the US, Murray said.

“She’s a very, very smart merchant — just brilliant with her teams,” Murray said of her late friend. “She was smart and savvy and had a great fashion sensibility.

“She decided to retire early because we all did well at VF.

“She had a place in Maine, which she went to every year. She also had place in Florida,” Murray noted.

Another friend of Holowach’s, former VF exec Maria Vicari-Tralongo, told The Post that her late pal was amazing on all fronts.

“Her contributions to the industry and the Kipling brand are noteworthy, but I believe that she has left a more important legacy in the many coworkers and the friends and family who were all touched by her amazing spirit, her unique and enviable way of leading, mentoring and supporting of others,” Vicari-Tralongo wrote in an email.

“I am devastated by the sudden loss of my dear friend Julie.”

A Kipling Americas spokeswoman added in a statement, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Julie. She was an incredible leader who brought out the best in her team and colleagues.

“She will be missed by our industry, our company, and as a friend to so many. Our thoughts are with her family at this time.”

Meanwhile, Westbrook Fire Chief Andrew Turcotte of Maine said on behalf of the family in a statement, “While they are very grateful for the outpouring of support that they have received, they’re asking for privacy during this very difficult period of time,” according to local WCSH-TV in a tweet.

“I ask that you please respect their request as they mourn the loss of a spouse, mother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, cousin and friend to many.”