Obituary of John Bollinger

CHESHIRE/WALLINGFORD - John C. “Jack” Bollinger, 92, died on July 10, 2017, at MidState Medical Center in Meriden.  Jack resided most recently at the Masonicare in Wallingford, and before that was a long-time resident of Cranberry Lane in Cheshire where he lived with his wife Carolyn (Phillips) Bollinger, who predeceased him in 2015. He is survived by many nieces and nephews across the country.

A native of Webster Groves, MO, Jack was a 1950 graduate of St. Louis University, and served in U.S. Navy as a medical corpsman in World War II.  Aboard the battleship USS Missouri, Jack was privileged to be a witness to history: the signing ceremony of the peace treaty that ended the war.  His pride in his military service was evident in his many colorful stories about his adventures in the Navy, and his devotion to veterans’ groups continued throughout his life.  In the past 2 years, Jack was honored to represent his fellow veterans in Cheshire’s annual Memorial Day parades.

For many years Jack worked for Sero Shirts as a manufacturer’s representative, first in Chicago and then throughout New England, where he worked with his friend and business partner Brendan Sullivan of Cheshire.

A man of deep faith, Jack was a devout member of St. Thomas Becket Church in Cheshire, where for a time he served as a Eucharistic Minister.

Although the Bollingers did not have children of their own, they frequently opened their home to provide a welcoming temporary home for a friend or relative in transition. Over the years, their generosity created a vast extended “family” who will continue to remember Carolyn and Jack with deepest affection, admiration, and gratitude.

Arrangements – A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday July 22, 2017 at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas Becket Church 435 North Brooksvale Rd., Cheshire.  Friends are asked to meet directly at church.  There are no calling hours and burial will be private in Hillside Cemetery.  The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire is assisting with arrangements.  Mr. Ed McGrath has been working with John Bollinger for over three years in writing and recording John's personal tour of his ship USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor as part of a series by WWII Veterans who served aboard the three Great War Ships which now call Pearl Harbor home.  These Tours are a part of and financed in part through the non-profit foundation / USS Arizona Memorial Foundation created to honor WWII Veterans of all services.  Donations in Jack's name can be sent to: USS Arizona Memorial Foundation / Los Angeles Offices / 23899 Madison Street Torrance, CA 90505.