Woodward teacher was avid sportsman

10/18/2004

Jack Bolduan, a longtime biology teacher at Woodward High School and an avid outdoorsman, died yesterday in the Northwest Ohio Hospice Center in Toledo. He was 63.

Mr. Bolduan taught science in the Toledo Public School system for 30 years and was chairman of the Woodward High School science department. He joined the district after graduating from Bowling Green State University in 1963 with a bachelor of science degree. He later earned a master's degree from Ohio State University.

Mr. Bolduan touched the lives of thousands of students, his family said.

He retired in 1993.

"He absolutely loved Woodward," said his younger brother James, 57, whom Mr. Bolduan helped direct into a teaching career as well. "He always said he'd never to go another school."

When not in school, Mr. Bolduan could be found either on the water or in the woods. Active in both waterfowl hunting and fishing, Mr. Bolduan developed his love for the outdoors as a young man when he hunted with his father.

His interest bloomed and Mr. Bolduan became active in several related organizations, including the Ohio Gun Collectors Association, the Lake Erie Charter Boat Association, the Straits Area Sportsmen Club in the Mackinaw Bridge Area of Michigan, and the South Side Sportsman Club, where he was serving as second vice president. He also served as recording secretary of the North Bay Shooting Club in Sandusky Bay, and was a life member of the National Rifle Association.

"His dad was a fireman so he had the time off to go hunting, and Jack did it right along with his dad," said his mother, Virginia. "He was very, very active in hunting. He loved it."

Mr. Bolduan also spent time as a fishing charter boat guide on Lake Erie for 25 years and eventually operated his own charter service out of Port Clinton and Catawba.

"When he retired, he really went big time with the charter boat fishing, and bought a big boat," his brother said.

Mr. Bolduan was diagnosed with a kidney abscess three years ago and became ill. He had a heart attack a few months later and had been sick ever since, his mother said.

Surviving are his mother, Virginia; three younger brothers, James, Jeffrey, and Jerry; and nieces and nephews.

Visitation is from 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. tomorrow at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 South Reynolds Rd. Services will be held in the mortuary at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The family suggests tributes to Concordia Lutheran Church, of which he was a member, the Northwest Ohio Hospice Association, or Ducks Unlimited.