Mr. Robert M. Boland

Robert M. Boland passed away Monday at his home, he was born September 20, 1925 in Philadelphia, PA, the son of the late Paul T. and Eva H. Boland. Subsequently, the family moved to Joplin, Missouri where he received his early schooling. In 1939, the family moved to Pittsfield, MA. Boland graduated from Pittsfield High School in the Class of 1944, but had been drafted into military service in November, 1943. He was trained as a radar navigator in the (then) Army Air Force and served for 2-1/2 years overseas as an Adjunct to the U.S. Navy on board “Liberty” ships. He was discharged in 1946. In 1948, Bob enrolled at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1952. While a student there, he was actively involved in the Roister Doisters Dramatic Society and the Operetta Guild in the Music Department. As a result of his activities, Bob was elected “Man of the Year” in 1952. He had designed and choreographed numerous theatrical productions including Brigadoon, The Student Prince, South Pacific, Carousel, East of Eden, and Liliom. During this period, Bob somehow found the time to write the “book” and lyrics for an original musical production titled Thunder in the Hills. This work was finally performed in 1958 and included in the cast was Buffy Saint-Marie, who was a student at that time. The Rodgers & Hammerstein organization was reluctant to authorize a student production of Carousel. Bob had already produced color renderings of his concepts for the settings and Dr. Doric Alviani, Director of the Operetta Guild, took these to New York City to show them. They were so impressed with Bob’s work that they agreed to authorize the first student production of their beloved musical! Following graduation, Bob received a Fellowship to the Theatre Department at Smith College for 1953-54. During that time, he also worked for the ANTA Theatre Project at the Court Square Theatre in Springfield, MA. In 1954, he was awarded a scholarship to the first professional theatre program at Boston University, and was one of only twenty-five students selected for that honor. He graduated with a Masters of Fine Arts degree in 1955. While at Boston University, Bob worked for the Tracy Music Library in Boston where he designed production books for Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. During this time, he also had the honor of designing settings and costumes for noted opera director, Sarah Caldwell. Following this, Bob returned to Pittsfield and was appointed to the Art Department of the Pittsfield Public School system. In 1957, he was named Supervisor of Art for the Pittsfield secondary schools, succeeding the man who had been his own art instructor in the school system, Thomas R. Curtin. Then, in 1961, he joined the faculty of the newly-formed Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield (on Second Street). This was the first community college to begin operations in Massachusetts, and Bob and the late Clara Park of Williamstown were the first faculty members to be hired. Bob remained at BCC, becoming Chairman of the Theatre and Fine Arts Department, until his retirement in 1988. During this period, he directed more than sixty theatrical productions while also teaching Art History, Theatre, Speech and Music courses. He actually had created both the Visual Arts and Theatre majors at BCC. Bob’s fondest theatrical memory, however, was of the spectacular outdoor production of Oklahoma which he directed and which was staged at Wahconah Park in 1961 as part of the celebration of the Pittsfield bi-centennial. In fact, Bob and the late Philip Ahern had been named co-chairmen of the bi-centennial festivities. His staging of this musical was the undisputed highlight of the entire celebration. Bob was a Life member of the Town Players of Pittsfield amateur theatrical group. He had introduced music theatre to the Berkshires with productions of Brigadoon and Annie, Get Your Gun at Pittsfield High School. He then directed (and designed) for the Town Players productions of Kiss Me Kate, Carousel, Anything Goes, A Little Night Music, and Into The Woods, as well as numerous other productions. Bob directed a production of “1776” which was the first theatrical production in the new theatre on BCC’s new campus on outer West Street in 1973. At his retirement, the theatre was formally named the Robert M. Boland Theatre. In fact, Bob had a great deal of involvement in the design of the theatre facility itself and his expertise in that regard is primarily responsible for the theatre’s continued successful use today. Over the years, Bob served on the Board of Directors for such organizations as the Town Players, Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, the Berkshire Museum, the Pittsfield Music School, the Berkshire Ballet (now Albany Berkshire Ballet), and the Berkshire County Savings Bank (now Berkshire Bank). As a longtime member of St. Stephen’s Parish in Pittsfield, Bob was remembered for his contributions in decorations (especially a Nativity scene at Christmas) and, most notably, his several productions of the Boar’s Head Pageant during Epiphany. Among the many awards Bob has received are included the President’s Award from then BCC President Jonathan Daube in 1983 and the Berkshire County Historical Society’s Preservation award in 2007. Also, in 1998, he was honored with an evening of entertainment by the Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County. In 1985, Bob was asked to be Grand Marshall of the annual Pittsfield Fourth of July parade along with his former student, Kathy Larkin who, by then, had become an accomplished professional actress. In 1997, Bob co-authored a book, with his longtime friend Paul Argentini, which is titled Musicals! Directing School and Community Theatre. In the forward, esteemed Berkshires playwright William Gibson said that the book “in my opinion, should be in every high school and college library in the country”. A great many of Bob’s former students have gone on to successful careers in the worlds of theatre and art, and all credit Bob as the source of their original aspirations. He was constantly recognized in supermarkets, etc. during his later years by former students still residing in the Pittsfield area. In fact, he even once was recognized by a former student while lunching in a pub in London, England! During the late 1990’s, Bob was the single significant instigator for the effort to save the Colonial Theatre on South Street in Pittsfield. As with previous efforts on his part in this regard decades before, he found it difficult to interest local politicians and businessmen in this endeavor. Consequently, Bob formed a volunteer group called the Friends of the Colonial Theatre Restoration to promote his dream. He conducted hundreds of free tours of the building while it was still the home of Miller’s Art Supply and, eventually, turned public opinion overwhelmingly in favor of the restoration concept. If not for Bob’s efforts, the successfully restored Colonial Theatre of today would not exist. Since 1975, Bob resided at 113 East Housatonic Street in Pittsfield with his long-time companion, Thomas J. Blalock. In his later years, he enjoyed gardening, oil painting, and painting restoration. Bob is survived by his sister, Mary Ellen Ames, of Palm Desert, CA, as well as three nephews. Kevin Ames resides with his husband, Mike Langham, in nearby Palm Springs; David Ames resides in San Francisco; and Stephen Ames resides in Menlo Park, CA with his wife Robin and their children, Emerson and Ellery. He also has a niece, Christine Albertus, living with her daughter, Kari Brodzinski, in Newark, Delaware. Bob was predeceased by a brother, Paul, a U.S. Marine Corps pilot who was lost at sea during World War II in 1944. Also, a brother, Maurice (“Bud”), a retired U.S. Air Force pilot, in 1999, as well as his wife, Janet. Finally, most distressingly, his brother-in-law, Robert Ames, formerly of Palm Desert, CA. FUNERAL NOTICE- A memorial service for Mr. Robert M. Boland will be held at St. Stephens Episcopal Church at a time and date to be announced. Donations in his memory may be made to the Colonial Theatre or the BCC Foundation Scholarship Fund, in care of the WELLINGTON FUNERAL HOME, 220 East St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Please visit www.wellingtonfuneralhome.com to leave condolences for his family.

Mr. Robert M. Boland

September 20, 1925 - April 25, 2016