Marcia - I was preparing to bring another meal and I got the sad news about Richard. I am so sorry that he had to struggle and pray that you will call upon any of us in the Woods at Polaris if you need assistance of any kind. God bless you and hold you close. Rest in heavenly peace Richard.

I’m going to talk about Mr. B from the perspective of a kid.  He was big, athletic, engaged, and when he entered a room, he immediately changed it and made it more fun.  He was a good Dad and coach to many, but he also always made a special effort to connect with every kid in a way few adults can do.  I have quite a few memories, but I’ll tell three.

We were in the back yard playing baseball and somehow one of us kids actually had a home run and put the ball over the fence into a neighbor’s bushes.  We try to retrieve the ball, but the elderly man who lived there came out and said something about us hurting his plantings.  Rather than yell at us, Mr B sees this and yells at the man that God put little boys and girls on earth to play ball, and if the ball goes in his yard he should let us get it back.  As a kid you always think you did the wrong thing, but he stepped in and I now know that his response was the right one.  He stood up for us, and after that we never really worried about hitting it there again.

Mr B had a unique way of talking that just made sense to kids.  He would say “that’s a big ‘un” or “that’s a mean ‘un” if he saw a good ball player or a fast car go by.  One day I told him I was playing middle linebacker on the 5/6 grade flag football team.  He’s looking down at this short, pudgy kid in front of him and says, “Well you must be a mean ‘un then.”  I think I became a little less short and pudgy that day.

Last story, I’m in high school and I introduce him to my girlfriend at the time.  OK, let’s be honest, my only hs girl friend.  Anyway, he hears her last name and says without any delay, “Oh, I know you. You must one of those Martin girls I’ve been hearing about around town.”  He’s trying to put her on the spot and get a laugh, but since she is the only Martin girl there is, we all immediately laugh at his joke.  The funny thing is, we are still laughing about it.  Tina and I have now been married over 30 years.

Thanks Mrs. B, John, Amy and the entire clan for sharing him with the world.  We're sorry we can’t be there in person!

Marcia and family, you are in my thoughts and prayers.  I am so very sorry for your loss.

Marcia and family, my sympathy in Dick's passing. I worked with Dick at Therm-O-Disc from 1967 -1986. Great friend at work. I always enjoyed the interaction between Al Lehnhart and Dick, especially during my time as VP of Manufacturing when both were reporting to me. Wonderful man. I liked his open and direct communication. Prayers and Blessings. Jim Rosser

Marcia, Amy, and John - I am SO sorry for your loss.  Richard was my Dad’s dearest friend for many years - though for the past decades he was lost to us.  It was lovely to see your family and the grandkids who so look like Amy and John.  I’m so happy for you all that you had those years together.  While this time is difficult, it is good that you are all together.

Thinking of you all at this difficult time with love - former babysitter - Susan Sweeney Upchurch

Dick was my oldest friend at TOD,  and certainly one of the closest.  He was a unique individual  with a heart of gold.  Permit me to share an event (with Dick) that has changed my life profoundly.  I'll try to be brief.

In 1975 our Sales Dept started a customer promotion of deer hunting on an island in L. Michigan.  We hunted 4 yrs,   when the island was sold to the US Govn  for a wilderness
park.  In  Sept ('80) Dick asked where we were hunting ?  In '79 we had gone to S-E Ohio (just several TOD hunters),  which Dick was aware of.  I answered that I guessed we'd hunt locally,  as our island hunt was no longer.  Dick then made the statement leading to my profound chg.  He said "I had a salesman in here a couple days ago that is going hunting on an island in L. Michigan".  He pulled out his atlas  and put his finger on  Beaver Island.  That was 1980 ... this November we will celebrate hunt no.  47 on that island  (customer promotion ended in 2003).   

Thank you Dick.  Overall 73 hunters have participated in hunts on those two islands.  I
have been involved with them all.

N.D.Young

OBITUARY

Richard Bollinger

November 7, 1938 – May 11, 2021

Schoedinger Midtown

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