David F. Bolger August 12, 1932 – December 29, 2018 Share this obituary Send Flowers Sign Guestbook| View Guest Book Entries David F. Bolger passed away peacefully on December 29, 2018, with his family by his side. David was born on August 12, 1932, in Alliquippa, PA, to John Theodore and Coby Bunge Bolger, who immigrated to this country from The Netherlands. He grew up on Bonny Hill Farm and never forgot from whence he came.
David attended Northfield Mount Herman Preparatory School and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1954. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a First Lieutenant. Mr. Bolger began his career in the steel mills of Pennsylvania, then became an associate at various firms, included working with Thomas Mellon Evans, H.K. Porter & Co., Broadstone Realty, and New York Securities Co., Inc., before founding Bolger & Co., Inc., in 1966.
As a financier, David was a leader in the leveraging of fixed assets, namely real estate, for major corporations, banks, and financial institutions. He had a knack for discovering undervalued assets and leveraging them to bring the best end result for both the lenders and the investors and company. David Bolger enjoyed philanthropic endeavors and a good joke.
He was known for the occasional giraffe in the front yard, rat in a desk, and other gags. He was predeceased by his parents, John and Coby, and his brother William Bolger. Mr. Bolger is survived by his twin sister, Barbara (William) Collett, his brother Daniel (Linda) Bolger, and his sister, Betty Fleming.
His legacy continues with his children, Betsie (Jon) Bolger Mott, John (Megan) Bolger, J.T. (Bevin) Bolger, and his grandchildren, whom he adored and on whom he doted: AJ, Kaylee, Aidan, Theo, Jack, and Ellie. David also is survived by his first wife, Barbara Abney Bolger, and second wife, Lois Coonradt. David took great pride in his community and communities around the world.
His legacy lives on thanks to his donations to various organizations around the world. Whether it was picking up trash; saving a college in Iowa; erecting a flagpole; donating an ambulance to his beloved Virgin Gorda; or helping build schools and supporting mental health in his own backyard, he always gave back more than he received. Here is one of his favorite anecdotes, in his own words.
In the 1970s,Upper Iowa University was a century-old institution of higher learning in danger of imminent financial collapse; David spent 11 years restructuring their debt and otherwise restoring Upper Iowa to fiscal health. Recalling a visit to the college’s small town of Fayette, IA, he said, “They used to have a Friday night walk…and in my customary way, I joined the walk one week and picked up various pieces of trash along the way. Then at dinner, I was presented with an award for my efforts: a stick with a nail on the end of it”.
That was David — never overlooking even the humblest details! David also loved to recount the story of his prep school’s sending a note home to his parents at the end of his first semester there. The school’s headmaster recommended that David not return to the school, because paying his tuition there would not be money well spent.
David’s father, John, replied that he would spend that summer talking with David and improving his attitude toward school. David did return to what was then called simply Mount Herman, eventually graduating successfully and going on to college. Years later, it was his particular pleasure to gift his alma mater with the state-of-the-art Bolger Arts Center and other valuable additions to the campus.
While he enjoyed a good building naming, David Bolger’s driving force was to change lives for the better and to make the world a better place in his own selfproclaimed “quirky” way. His philanthropy and support of various endeavors was David’s hobby, and it was his life’s goal to give back more than he received. As the son of immigrant parents, He was a firm believer in the American dream and donated more than 14 flags and flagpoles to various locales.
He also proudly flew the flag in his own front yard in Ridgewood. Donations would be greatly appreciated in David’s name to: West Bergen Mental Health, The Valley Hospital, and The Women’s Club of Ridgewood. The family will receive guests at C.C. Van Emburgh on Thursday, January 3, from 1-4pm and 6:30-9pm, with service at West Side Presbyterian Church on Friday, January 4, at 11am.
Interment will be private.
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