Richard "Dick" Bolan

1933 - 2025

HAVERHILL – Richard "Dick" Bolan, 91, a proud Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War, a lifelong enthusiast of model railroads, and a visionary in the early days of computing, helping shape the tools that define modern word processing, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2025. Dick was born in Lynn, MA on November 11, 1933, the son of Joseph and Grace E. (Morris) Bolan. He grew up in Swampscott and Haverhill and was a graduate of St. James High School in Haverhill. He graduated from Clark University in Worcester. His life was marked by quiet strength, deep curiosity, and unwavering devotion. He answered the call of duty at a young age, serving bravely during the Korean War as a United States Marine. His service was a point of pride that he carried with humility throughout his life. In the 1960s and '70s, he worked with pioneering teams that laid the groundwork for digital text editing, helping transform typewriters into word processors, and contributing to innovations that made formatting, storing, and sharing written information easier for millions. His work-equal parts technical brilliance and intuitive understanding of how people write-played a quiet but critical role in the digital age. Dick was an amateur historian and a lifelong enthusiast of model railroads. He poured his meticulous nature and boundless imagination into model railroading, building intricate layouts that captured the wonder of a bygone era. His basement was a miniature world of trains and countryside towns, where he spent countless hours sharing stories and assembling tracks with anyone willing to listen and learn. He is survived by his two beloved children Michael Bolan (Maria) of Delaware and Elizabeth Bolan (Wolf Lindwasser) of Maryland, four grandchildren Sam, Ben, Greta and Elsa, brother John Bolan of Florida, and nieces and nephew Karyn, Melissa and Matthew. A ceremony will be held with military honors, and in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project in Dick's memory. Semper Fi, Richard. The tracks you laid will never be forgotten. ARRANGEMENTS: Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend calling hours on Saturday, April 26 from 3PM until 4PM at the Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main Street, Haverhill. Please visit www.comeaufuneral.com or Comeau Funeral Home on Facebook.