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Richard Bollard Obituary
Born July 13, 1927 in Hamilton, New Zealand; died June 28, 2014 in Seattle, WA.
Survived by his children, Sandy Brodahl, Bob Bollard (Ellen), Tim Bollard and Barbara Breen (Dan); grandchildren, Brie, RJ, Sarah, Mary, Cassie, Jack and Jack; great-grandson, John; sister, Erica Matthews; sister in law, Patricia Bollard; a large extended family; and many friends. Preceded in death by his beloved wife of 52 years, Eve Bollard; twin sister, Jill Bollard; brother, Richard Bollard.
John received his BE and ME degrees at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and his PhD from Purdue University, USA, where he met his wife, Eve Habig. They were married in New Zealand where he worked as a structural design engineer for the NZ Civil Aviation Authority. Eve and John returned to Purdue University in 1956. In 1961, they moved to Seattle where John was a Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Washington for 35 years.
He was a founding member of the Seattle-Christchurch Sister City Association, and an active member of the New Zealanders of Seattle Association, the Woodland Park Zoo, the Burke Museum and the Arboretum. John and Eve spent many years later in life living at Waiheke Island where they had a vineyard on their property. He was the first Honorary New Zealand Consul to the Northwest and was honored by the Queen of England in 1997, as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to New Zealand interests in the United States of America.
Remembrances may be made to Washington Park Arboretum Foundation at http://www.arboretumfoundation.org/
Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, July 7th at 10 AM at
Assumption Catholic Church
6201 33rd Ave NE, Seattle 98115
Hoffner Fisher & Harvey
Guestbook at harveyfuneral.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Richard Bollard
Sponsored by The Family.
Ben and Catherine Trueblood
March 4, 2023
Professor Bollard was briefly my advisor, and twice my professor, at the U of Washington Aero school. A good professor, great storyteller. Will be visiting NZ soon with my wife, also a UWAA graduate and student of John's. Went looking for him to say hello, sad to find an obituary site instead. May he RIP, and may his descendants know he is missed.
JoAnn
July 13, 2019
Thinking of your father on his birthday in 2019 I am always reminded of him and his great kindness when I see Bastille Day celebrations begin. We still remember him with high regard at the UW.
Frank Habig Family
July 24, 2014
Bollard Family,
We are so saddened to hear that John died, but believe he is now with Eve again. May your fondest memories bring you the strength to cope with this loss. Love to you all!
Neil Phelps
July 10, 2014
I happened upon the notice in the Seattle Times. I remember Prof. Bollard fondly from my days as a student in the UW Aero department. He was a good teacher and an entertaining story teller.
Charless Fowlkes
July 9, 2014
I walked into John's office in 1961 and ended up working in the A&A Department until 1968. I remember him as a person of boundless enthusiasm and compelling presence that made him seem taller than he was.
John took me out to lunch in 1964 and wanted to go to the marina to see a sailboat I had just bought. He was down below looking around and commenting with enthusiasm on the detailed woodwork while I sat in the cockpit gazing around the marina.
"Yea, it's pretty nice," I said, " but it doesn't have standing headroom".
There was a silence and I looked down the hatch to see John standing with several extra inches above his head. He was looking up at me with a big grin. I assumed I was forgiven and we went on to other topics.
After about 50 years I can still see and remember that grin as though it was yesterday.
Charless and Marjorie Fowlkes
Bozeman, Montana
July 8, 2014
Barb and Dan, a sad time indeed for you and all of us that knew John. I so enjoyed his company and our times together, sailing and otherwise, and his incredible generosity of spirit as a person and of course with "Eden Express" May his memory sail forever with us with fair winds and a gentle sea, a Waiheke sunset and a glass of Okoka Bay merlot.
Lots of love
Terry
Rosie Kaplan
July 8, 2014
I wrote condolences but they seem to have got lost with the picture. It was taken on the last time we went sailing with him. It was such a sweet day. xxx
July 7, 2014
aue te mamae, ka hinga te totara I te wao tapunui a tane. e moe e te rangatira e moe,when ever a great totara falls the whole forest weeps. may you rest in the shelter of your ancestors Richard, you will never be forgotten. from the mighty Waikato to the towering peak of Mt Rainier, rest well e te rangatira, a great chief. ma te atua e tiaki. na Caine Tauwhare
Lynda (Hammer) Hamilton
July 7, 2014
The Hammer family was very sorry to hear about the passing of John. We have so many fond memories of our families spending Christmas Eve together as well as time in the San Juans, boating around Lake Washington, etc. He was a wonderful man and will be dearly missed. Our love to you all.
David Jackson
July 7, 2014
Uncle John, you were a inspiration to a lot of people. I know your family is morning you but you are back with Aunt Eve. So, I will toast you two tonight and pray your children and grand children are comforted by the joy and inspiration you gave to all. RIP.
July 7, 2014
So enjoyed a trip to New Zealand with John in the party. My sympathies!
Syrene Forsman [Clint Staaf's sister]
Ian Burrows
July 7, 2014
It was an honour to know you John and to be able to enjoy your special part of Waiheke which we will continue to do. Rest in peace
Richard Greene
July 7, 2014
Expressing sympathies and condolences from NYC to the family and friends of RJH Bollard. His legacy lives through you.
Brian Palliser
July 7, 2014
Farewell to a great character. A friend , colleague and a remarkable academic. You have left a wonderful legacy in the relationship between Christchurch and Seattle that you were so instrumental in creating. Your family must be so proud of your achievements. So sorry I never got to share your wine. Have a safe journey. My condolences to your family.
July 6, 2014
Our deepest sympathy goes out to the entire Bollard family. I wish we could be with you at this difficult time. Uncle John will be missed by all of the Jackson family.
George Jackson
Rosie Kaplan
July 6, 2014
Amanda Douglas
July 6, 2014
Thinking of you all today as you celebrate the life of John. Lots of love and prayers.
Grant and Amanda, William, Emily, Lucy and Harry. XX
Breen Family
July 6, 2014
All our love and thoughts to all of the Bollard family . We enjoyed great times and have lovely memories from time spent in both Seattle and Waiheke with your dad and family xxxx
July 5, 2014
Farewell to a remarkable man who achieved so much over his lifetime. You were one of my best friends for over 65 years - we certainly had some stories to relate about old times with happiness and laughter accompanied with a small dram. Annette and I are grateful to you and Eve for your generosity and help before we built next door on Waiheke Island - it was a pity we were not able to be neighbours for long. We will miss your company so much,and we extend to your family our love and sympathy at this sad time.
Susan Hassall
July 3, 2014
On behalf of the Hamilton Boys' High School community, I express our sadness and regret at the passing of a very special, wonderful Old Boy of our school. We are proud to name him as a member of our community. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this sad time.
Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
July 3, 2014
Dear Barbara and the Bollard Family,
We Sisters of the Holy Names send you our prayerful sympathy as you give John back to his loving Creator. May your Father's new life in God's Presence be a deep source of peace for you all, and may you know his nearness often.
Sandy Brodahl
July 3, 2014
I Love You Dad! I Miss You So Much.
Dennis Mestas
July 2, 2014
My condolences go out to Eve and the kids. What a loss to them, to his many friends, and indeed academia itself.
John was an extremely bright light in my life and career. He was the most intelligent and knowledgeable person I have ever met. I had the privilege of his huge engineering knowledge in numerous plane crash cases in Alaska. We enjoyed numerous fishing and hunting trips together into the Alaska Wilderness, and, glad to say, he enjoyed them immensely.
A person could not meet a more charming, kind, and giving person than John. It was a great privilege to have known him.
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