Sondra Clarke Boliek

Sonny was a person of extraordinary taste with a passion for travel. She spoke four languages and explored the world collecting-and leaving--a trail of beauty. During her life she visited countless places on five continents. An accomplished horseback rider and canoer, she also enjoyed backpacking with her family.

Born on November 19, 1934, in Jackson, Michigan, Sonny moved with her family to Solana Beach when her father, Hubert Clarke, was deployed in the Pacific during World War II. She attended Oberlin College, where she spent her junior year abroad in Beirut, Lebanon. There she met the man who would be her husband for 45 years, Lynn Boliek.

Shortly after their Michigan wedding, Lynn and Sonny moved to Amsterdam as Lynn pursued his Th.D. During their five years there Sonny made a home, taught herself fluent Dutch conversing with local merchants and gave birth to her son, Martin. The couple later moved to San Diego where Lynn was ordained as the Assistant Pastor of the Northminster Presbyterian Church. In San Diego, Sonny gave birth to her daughter, Babette..

From San Diego the couple received a call to minister at the First Presbyterian Church of Burlingame where Lynn took the Associate Pastor position alongside Tom Gillespie, a longtime family friend. In Burlingame Sonny blossomed as an artist with both oils and with an interior-decorating business. After 14 years, the couple again received a new call, this time even further north in Chico, California , and Lynn took the Senior Pastor position at Bidwell Presbyterian Church. In Chjco Sonny again quickly established herself as an artistic presence. Not only did Sonny continue to pursue her own studio art, she studied for and received her Master of Fine Arts from Chico State. Her thesis was a cutting edge study of public art curating that put her in the forefront of public art scholarship.

After almost two decades in Chico, the couple returned to Southern California and retired to Carlsbad. In Carlsbad, Sonny enjoyed the lagoons and beaches of San Diego when not traveling.

A devoted wife and loving mother, Sonny showed taste and grace her entire life. In every way, Sonny was a true woman of beauty. She will be missed.

In addition to her children Babette and Martin, Sonny is survived by three grandchildren, Sarah, Cassidy, and Charlotte. A memorial service will be held at 2:00p Monday November 18, 2013 at Sunrise at La Costa, 7020 Manzanita Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92011. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Lynn Boliek Scholarship Fund. Checks may be written to Bidwell Presbyterian Church (or BPC) with a memo note “Boliek Scholarship.” and mailed to Boliek Scholarship, c/o Bidwell Presbyterian Church, 208 West First Street, Chico, CA 95928.

In honor of Dr. Lynn Boliek’s devoted Christian service to Bidwell Presbyterian Church from 1980 to 1997, the church leadership established a scholarship fund to be known as The Lynn Boliek Scholarship Fund. Deserving candidates who are enrolled in a seminary, who are in good academic standing, who understand that the Gospel was not just a story but a real power of Christ in real people's lives and who demonstrate financial need may receive awards from this fund. Since its establishment, dozens of future church leaders have received support and encouragement through this resource. Currently 5 students enrolled in seminary education are receiving Boliek Scholarship funds.