July 31, 1924 - December 3, 2018
Grandfather, early space program engineer, US Navy veteran
Henry Boland died peacefully on December 3, surrounded by
his cats Motley and Charlie, his son Hank, and one of his wonderful caregivers,
Catalina.
He was born July 31, 1924 and grew up in the small mining
town of Globe, Arizona. There he worked in a copper mine before graduating from
high school. He then enlisted in the US Navy. After leaving the Navy he moved
to the big city, Tucson, and attended the University of Arizona, graduating
with a degree in mechanical engineering. He put that degree to use in one of
his favorite jobs, using a slide rule to design and test rocket engines used in
America’s embryonic space program.
He loved dogs and took his black lab/boxer mix for a walk
twice a day, rain or shine. Guided by his wife of 50 years, Rose Marie,
he became a cat lover later in life.
When the neighborhood kids painted his driveway with chalk
in celebration of his birthday, he took pictures of their work and sent them to
friends and family. He loved that these kids shared their cat with him for days
at a time and that they visited him regularly.
Mr. Boland was the best dad to his son, Henry R., his
daughter, Francie, his daughter-in-law Sally, and a very special grandfather to
his grandson, Henry G. and his wife Suzette, his family shared. He was a kind,
generous and loyal friend to many people.
“That lucky old sun has nothing to do but roll around heaven
all day,” was one of his favorite lyrics from the 1949 hit, “Lucky Old Sun.”
“He has joined the sun on its rounds and will be shining on us every day, just
as he did in life,” his family shared.
A celebration of Mr. Boland’s life is planned for January
2019.
