Although he retired as director of education for the Catholic school board in 1989, Bill Bolger left an indelible mark on Catholic education locally that is still felt today.
William Peter Bolger, or Bill as many knew him, died on Feb. 23 at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie. He was 87.
“Even though he’s been retired for 30 years, he truly was ‘Mr. Catholic Education,’” Brian Beal, former director of education with the Simcoe Muskoka District Catholic School Board, told CollingwoodToday. “He has this incredible place of fondness in everybody’s heart.”
“I never worked with him, but I always knew him. That was the kind of presence he had in our school board,” said Beal.
Bolger’s wife of 29 years, Maura Bolger, met Bill while she was a school board trustee. She says Bill got a lot of gratification over the years from student reactions to his teaching methods.
Maura shared a piece of writing by Bill.
“I recall a little girl who wasn’t able to grasp fractions. When it did get through to her I’ll never forget her face. It was like somebody turned on the lights of a Christmas tree,” wrote Bill.
Maura describes Bill as being a quiet and reserved person who wasn’t interested in the spotlight.
“He was always reaching out and wanting to help where need be, but in his own very quiet way,” she said.
But his shyness didn't prevent him from taking some bold actions, like the time he started a Catholic high school in a Collingwood church basement.
According to Beal, that's exactly how the former Jean Vanier Catholic High School, now Our Lady of the Bay, came to be.
“He started it in a church basement. We have a letter on file from the minister of education at the time ordering him to close that school because it didn’t have permission to operate,” said Beal, with a laugh. “Then, the apology came, and the permission came, and the funding came.”
Beal said Bolger was director of education at the same time the Catholic board got full funding for some of Simcoe County’s Catholic high schools.
“That’s really a big part of his legacy. When we received full funding from Ontario, within a year he took the courageous step to open up four new Catholic high schools,” said Beal.
The four schools were opened in Bradford, Tottenham, Collingwood and Orillia.
This increased the contingent of Catholic high schools from two to six in Simcoe County.
“We didn’t have land, or principals, or names then, but the steps were in place,” he said.
Maura says the move earned Bolger a reputation.
“He was known as the director who had the nerve to open four high schools in one year,” she said. “He stuck to his guns.”
Beal started working as a teacher for the local Catholic board the day that Bolger retired.
“He features prominently in the history of our board. He truly epitomized Catholic education. When I became director I was truly humbled to imagine that I was following in his footsteps. In many ways, I wanted to model myself after the way he led our board,” said Beal.
Beal said Bolger was very involved in every aspect of Catholic education, although clarifies that the board was much smaller then.
“He would sit in on teacher interviews, and from then on for the next 30 or 40 years would always know their name and their story,” said Beal. “His memory was incredible that way.”
In his honour, there is a scholarship given out in Bolger’s name every year to a graduating student from the Catholic board.
“He was a gentleman, but he was also tenacious and courageous,” said Beal. “He’s not just admired. He’s loved.”
Current director of education with the Catholic school board Francis Bagley also provided kind words about Bolger.
"Bill Bolger is one of those people who had a profound impact on the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board," said Bagley. "Even though I have only been with this board for a short while, his name and reputation have preceded him – he is fondly regarded by former and current staff."
Visitation for friends and family only will be taking place at Adams Funeral Home in Barrie on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
A funeral mass for Bolger will be held virtually at 10 a.m. on Saturday here.
