Howard "Bud" Wilson Bolte, born on September 30, 1933 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to Elizabeth Wilson Bolte and Howard A. Bolte, passed away at age 84, with his loving wife by his side, on September 3, 2018 in Mount Dora, Florida.
Howard was the loving husband of Nike (Dodd) Bolte. He was pre-deceased by his first wife, Mary (Ziska) Bolte, his parents, his daughter, Elizabeth Conlan; and grandmother, Mary A. Wilson. Howard is survived by his daughters, Andrea (John) Macy, Michelle (Peter) Freehafer, Lori Woodworth, Kathleen (Eric) Carlson, and Sharon (Guil) Terry; 17 Grandchildren; 16 Great - Grandchildren.
Friends and family members may attend the calling hours on Sunday, September 16, 2018 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Aston Basagic Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be Monday, September 17 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be Monday, September 17 at 12:00 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery. Aston-Basagic Funeral Home is handling arrangements, 7742 Main St, Hunter, (518) 263-4719. Donations in Howard's name to Compassionate Care Hospice of Lake and Summer Co. are welcome and appreciated.
Bud received his Bachelor's and Master's degree from Colgate University in Hamilton, NY and was particularly proud of receiving a grant from the National Science Foundation to obtain his Master's. He enjoyed a 36-year career teaching in the Hunter-Tannersville Central school district, specifically NYS Regents Earth Science as well as middle school math and science. He received many accolades during his tenure as a teacher including Greene County's Teacher of the Year in 1985. He was also asked, and honored, to be a contributor to the NYS Earth Science Regents Exam.
Bud belonged to several associations and organizations over the years. One near and dear to his heart was the local Lion's Club chapter. He also loved spending time in the woods hunting and fishing and was a member of the Hunter Fish and Game Club. In his retirement years he was a member of several art leagues and organizations, proudly attaining signature status in the Florida Watercolor Society and the Central New York Watercolor Society.
Watching and participating in various sporting activities was one of Bud's favorite pastimes. He was an avid golfer and spent many years at Colonial golf course establishing and running league play as well as various tournaments. In his retirement years golf remained an active passion, which included frequent trips back to his alma mater for tournaments. In addition to golf Bud loved to bowl and played basketball and baseball in his younger years. When not playing, Bud could be proudly seen as a spectator at anyone of his daughter's or grandchildren's sporting events. His love for Colgate never wavered, bringing him back often over the years to watch a football or hockey game.
When Bud retired from teaching, he and his wife enjoyed dividing their time between Tannersville and ultimately Hamilton, New York and Mount Dora, Florida. His retirement allowed him to pursue a lifelong interest in the arts and develop his own skills as an artist. This interested him as a young man, but due to family and work commitments he did not have the time to purse this passion. Beginning first as a student, he came full circle again to doing what he devoted his life to - teaching. During the 27 years following his retirement he painted precisely and prolifically, in both watercolor and acrylic mediums, using scenery from Florida and his beloved Catskill and Adirondack mountains In New York State. He taught workshops, gave art demos and his paintings received numerous awards in countless art shows. His ability to capture beauty and express emotion will live on in his art.
Bud Bolte was a disciplined and principled man, giving the best of himself and expecting it of his students. He was widely respected, ever witty, always offering a listening ear and an encouraging word. His legacy will live on for years to come in the students he. inspired, his peers who respected him, and his family and friends who loved him.
