Howard "Bud" Bolte

Teacher, Coach, Adult Educator, 84, of Mount Dora, FL and Hamilton, NY, formerly of Tannersville, NY, passed away gently, with his wife by his side, September 3rd at his residence in Florida. He was born in Atlantic City, NJ, the son of the late Howard A. and Elizabeth Wilson Bolte, September 30, 1933.
 
Bud received his Bachelor's and Master’s degree from Colgate University in Hamilton, NY and was particularly proud of receiving a grant from the National Science Foundation to obtain his Master's. He enjoyed a 36-year career teaching in the Hunter-Tannersville Central school district, specifically NYS Regents Earth Science as well as middle school math and science. He received many accolades during his tenure as a teacher including Greene County's Teacher of the Year in 1985. He was also asked, and honored, to be a contributor to the NYS Earth Science Regents Exam.

Bud belonged to several associations and organizations over the years. One near and dear to his heart was the local Lion's Club chapter. He also loved spending time in the woods hunting and fishing and was a member of the Hunter Fish and Game Club. In his retirement years he was a member of several art leagues and organizations, proudly attaining signature status in the Florida Watercolor Society and the Central New York Watercolor Society.

Watching and participating in various sporting activities was one of Bud's favorite pastimes. He was an avid golfer and spent many years at Colonial golf course establishing and running league play as well as various tournaments. In his retirement years golf remained an active passion, which included frequent trips back to his alma- mater for tournaments. In addition to golf Bud loved to bowl and played basketball and baseball in his younger years. When not playing, Bud could be proudly seen as a spectator at anyone of his daughter's or grandchildren's sporting events. His love for Colgate never wavered, bringing him back often over the years to watch a football or hockey game.

When Bud retired from teaching, he and his wife enjoyed dividing their time between Tannersville and ultimately Hamilton, New York and Mount Dora, Florida. His retirement allowed him to pursue a lifelong interest in the arts and develop his own skills as an artist. This interested him as a young man, but due to family and work commitments he did not have the time to purse this passion. Beginning first as a student, he came full circle again to doing what he devoted his life to - teaching. During the 27 years following his retirement he painted precisely and prolifically, in both watercolor and acrylic mediums, using scenery from Florida and his beloved Catskill and Adirondack mountains In New York State. He taught workshops, gave art demos and his paintings received numerous awards in countless art shows. His ability to capture beauty and express emotion will live on in his art.

Bud Bolte was a disciplined and principled man, giving the best of himself and expecting it of his students. He was widely respected, ever witty, always offering a listening ear and an encouraging word. His legacy will live on for years to come in the students he. inspired, his peers who respected him, and his family and friends who loved him.
Survivors include his wife, Nike (Dodd) Bolte; 5 daughters - Andrea (John) Macy, Michelle (Peter) Freehafer, Lori Woodworth, Kathleen (Eric) Carlson, Sharon (Guil) Terry, a cousin Barbara (Bolte) (Edwin L.) Kroger, 17 Grandchildren; 16 Great-Grandchildren.

Mr. Bolte was pre-deceased by his wife, Mary (Ziska) Bolte; daughter Elizabeth Conlan, son-in-law Duane Woodworth, Maternal Grandmother Mary E. Wilson.

Calling hours will be 2:00 – 4:00 PM and 7:00 – 9:00 PM on Sunday, September 16th at the Aston-Basagic Funeral Home, Main St., Hunter, NY. A Celebration of Life service will be held there Monday the 17th at 11:00 AM followed by a 12:00 PM interment at Evergreen Cemetery, Bloomer Rd., Tannersville, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Compassionate Care Hospice of Lake and Sumter Co., 900 Main St. Suite 100, The Villages, FL 32159 in Bud's memory.