Rodger Bolles

Rodger N Bolles

1939 - 2018

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Obituary of Rodger N Bolles

I was born on May 23, 1939, at 5 am. Contrary to some opinion, the word "legitimate" appears prominently on my birth certificate. Hitler invaded Poland three months and nine days later but I didn't have anything to do with it.

I was yanked from a warm place and forced to breath by a wallop on the butt. I retaliated by peeing all over the doctor or so my mother said. I enjoyed the image and looked forward to a beau geste of similar elan upon my exit.

I remember little of the event but Mom vivified the details. The birth hut was a hard­ rock minor's shack with half a roof in Uravan, Colorado. Uravan derives from uranium and vanadium, the chief attraction of a desolate spot near the San Juan Mountains. My dad worked as a mucker in the mines.

Mom said Dad had to race down the dark mountain in an ore truck without headlights to retrieve a doctor. The doctor sat on an empty powder keg with a split head. Mom knew that every time you rock that keg the split would pinch your butt. Evidently, this amusement eased the pain of her delivery.

Here is a snappy taken when I was about eighteen months old:

Rodger N. Bolles passed away on August 30, 2018 at his home in Royal Oaks, California at the age of 79. Born in Colorado, he moved with his family to Bakersfield where he attended East Bakersfield High School.  While in high school he was a Scholar-Athlete and was Captain of his Varsity Football Team. He was an honors graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and later earned a law degree from Hastings College of Law. He served in the Marine Corp Reserves and the Airforce Security Service. He also served in the Coast Guard Auxiliary where he was a Russian Linguist aboard several Coast Guard Cutters. A practicing attorney, he managed his law practice for 34 years.

Rodger was founder, president and board member of Russian-American Circle, Inc., President of the Santa Cruz Host Lions Club, Parliamentarian for the Coast Guard Auxiliary, District 11 and past Editor-in-Chief of “Dancing Bear” a Russian-American Quarterly.

Rodger also pursued advanced nautical education with master certifications in seamanship, weather, navigation and communications. He has owned and crewed on numerous vessels throughout his life. He was also was a guest consultant to the Russian Navy during their 300th Anniversary Celebration and an expert consultant on the Spielberg movie “Amistad”.

He is survived by his children, John Bolles of Santa Cruz, Adrian Bolles of Santa Cruz and Nicole Gilbert of Loveland, CO. He is also survived by his loving companion, Mabel Cole of Royal Oaks.

At Rodger’s request, no services are planned. Arrangements are under the care of Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel.

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A Memorial Tree was planted for Rodger
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel