Morgan Joshua Bolt

1991 - 2018

Morgan Joshua Bolt

Sept. 17, 1991 - Dec. 18, 2018

CORNING, NY - Morgan Joshua Bolt, age 27, of Corning, NY, died on December 18, 2018 from Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors. He was born on September 17, 1991 in South Bend, IN, one state away from and just 20 minutes after Christina, his beloved wife of 5 years.

Growing up in South Bend, Morgan was actively involved in the Suzuki Music School of Granger, Awana, 4H, in many homeschooling activities, such as Boy Scouts Troop 300 (where he reached Eagle Scout) and Wildcats basketball, and in various groups at the South Bend Christian Reformed Church/Church of the Savior. Upon graduating with a degree in sustainability studies from Messiah College in May 2014, he became a classroom support teacher in Cumberland, PA. After being diagnosed with this rare, aggressive, pediatric sarcoma in October 2014, he spent much of the following years in ongoing treatments and clinical trials. He died at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, supported by his wife, parents, and a wonderful medical team, and sustained by the encouragement of family and friends around the world.

He is survived by his wife, Christina; his parents, Marvin and Linda; three siblings, Elyssa, Korynne (Seth Walker), and Ariane; maternal grandparents, Frank and Judy Mickler; paternal grandmother, Hielkje Bolt; parents-in-law, Gary and Kileen Cassiday; sister-in-law, Rachel; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

During these past four years, Morgan lived life to the fullest, going on road trips to the American West and on a river cruise in Europe. He enjoyed hiking, playing hockey, skiing, snowboarding, and riding roller-coasters, along with spending quiet evenings with Christina. Morgan loved writing and published multiple books, including the Tamyth Trilogy, The Favored, and Cancer Just Is, an exploration of his recent experiences.

Morgan requested that family and friends wear spring colors at his memorial service at Church of the Savior Christian Reformed Church, 1855 N. Hickory Ave., South Bend, IN on Sunday, January 6 at 4 pm, with visitation beginning at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, Morgan requested that you plant flowers or trees, donate in his name to a Ronald McDonald House, which provided lodging for him, or donate to DSRCT Research at MSKCC, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY 10065.

“So go, live fully. Have more experiences than things. Before cancer I found volunteering to be immensely rewarding, and since cancer I've been truly blessed by volunteers. So go volunteer. Go take a risk. Go live, really live. Life is shorter than we think, and we have no guarantees. Live well and love everyone, without exception.”