Gerald M. Bolstridge

1936 - 2022

Gerald M. “Pete” Bolstridge, 85, of Chicopee and Stuart, Florida was Called Safely Home on Saturday, May 21, 2022. He passed into Eternal Life suddenly at his winter home in Stuart, Florida surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Portage Lake, Maine on October 9, 1936, a beloved son of the late Wallace and Edith (Clark) Bolstridge. He was raised in Buffalo, Maine and had moved to Chicopee in 1975 where he lived the remainder of his life. He and his wife had also been winter residents of Stuart, Florida since 2000. He served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War and the Vietnam War and attained the rank of Technical Sergeant. He continued his service with the United States Air Force for 21 years and received the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Air Force Longevity Service Award with Four Oak Leaf Clusters. He had furthered his education and received an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield. He was employed as a High School Teacher for 10 years with Job Corps in Chicopee and later for 10 years with the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative in West Springfield. He was a communicant of Saint Anne Church and a member of the Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus, the AmVets Post 12 and the American Legion Post 438, all in Chicopee and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Florida. He leaves his beloved wife and soul mate, Diane A. (Landry) Bolstridge. They were married on August 2, 1958 at Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 63 years of happiness. He also leaves his loving daughter, Deborah A. Barlow of Buford, GA; his loving son in law, Leo H. McAuliffe of Chicopee; his four cherished grandchildren, Christine Cameron and her husband, Randy, Stefanie Brown and her husband, Edgar, Michelle Pelissier and her husband, Anthony and Jonathan Bolstridge; his cherished great grandchildren; his cherished great great grandson; his dear brother, Floyd Bostridge of Brewer, Maine; his dear brother in law, Ronald Landry and his wife, Kathleen; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family members and friends. In addition to his beloved parents, he was predeceased by his loving daughter, Donna Jean McAuliffe who was Called Home on September 29, 2017; his loving son in law, Douglas Edward Barlow who was Called Home on November 1, 2014; and his 12 dear brothers and sisters. His Funeral will be held on Friday, June 3, 2022 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 9:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Committal Service with United States Air Force Military Honors will follow the Mass at 1 p.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, June 2, 2022 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The funeral home parking lot is located in the rear. His family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to Camp Freedom, 284 Number 7 Road, Carbondale, PA 18407 or online at: www.campfreedom.org or the Jennifer D. Landry Math Fund, Mount Holyoke College Advancement Office, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA 01075. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com