David Jerome "Jerry" Boldra

Engineer, Christian, Philanthropist
Oldest of four children of Ellis K. Boldra and Kathryn Mulligan, Jerry was born in Topeka, KS just after World War II and died in Houston, TX at age 77 of pancreatic cancer. He chose to be buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, on the north side of a tree shaded in the warm Texas sun that he loved. In his final hours on earth, he agreed to allow the inscription on his tombstone to be changed from "He Tried" to "He was Loved!"
In lieu of flowers he suggested donations to St. John the Divine endowment fund.
As a child in Texas and New Mexico, Jerry graduated in a class of 16 from St. Peter's High School and later from New Mexico State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He served six years in the New Mexico and Indiana National Guard. Jerry had a great capacity for friendship, nurturing an ever-expanding group life-long friends.
With a degree in Mechanical Engineering Jerry chose Shell Oil for a 33-year career in project design, construction, operation, and maintenance in Shell's pipeline segment on land, offshore, and in the swamps of Louisiana. After Jerry left Shell at 58 he continued working as a tank consultant. One project in 2010 involved a 24-hour post-earthquake triage team making temporary repairs to a large shoreline tank farm in Haiti.
Fascinated since childhood by sailing boats, Jerry learned to sail and joined racing teams, but he most enjoyed cruising as skipper with small crews of friends who sailed with him to the British Virgin Islands, the San Juan Islands in Puget Sound, Tahiti, Croatia, and Athens.
After successful surgery for prostate cancer in 1999 Jerry joined a support group to help other men facing that diagnosis and to stay current on advances in treatment. For the next 18 years, Jerry variously served in various roles including co-sponsor of a 5K run in Houston to raise funds to support the group and donate to local and national cancer centers. Over that time, he estimated they had raised $100,000.
Toward the end of his life Jerry said he was most proud of his "growth in relationship with Jesus." After joining the Episcopal church, he attended 50 hours of training to become a Stephen Minister, providing one-to-one, Christ-centered care for people facing life challenges.
Jerry loved warm sunshine and sunsets, yellow roses, Texas bluebonnets, and the western waltz. He loved family reunions, fruit pies, and fireworks on the Fourth of July. He loved country songs that tell stories about love and family and God. He was always ready to learn something new and never too old to do something better. He traveled the world but had yet to see Ireland, the land of his ancestors. Pre-deceased by a younger brother, Gregory, of Westminster, CO, Jerry is survived by a brother, Gary of Glendale, AZ and a sister, Karen of Tulalip, WA. He has 4 surviving nephews, Matthew of Pine, CO; Gabriel and Jacob of Phoenix, AZ; and Michael of Corpus Christi, TX.
Rest in Peace, Good Friend, Good Son, Good Brother!