By Patrick Downes | Hawaii Catholic Herald

Father John Francis Bolin Jr., a former Marianist provincial superior who held numerous leadership positions at Chaminade University of Honolulu, and who was recruited to be vicar general of the Diocese of Honolulu from 1994 to 2000, died at age 82 on June 15 in Cupertino, Calif. He was a Marianist for 64 years and a priest for 54 years.

Arriving in Hawaii in 1959 to be an English professor and vice president for academic affairs of Chaminade College, as it was then called, Father Bolin had worked in the islands off-and-on for 24 years.

A Marianist since 1944 and ordained in 1955, the Brooklyn-born priest was a high school teacher, college professor and administrator, novice master, seminary rector, provincial councilor and, for eight years, provincial of the Marianists’ Pacific Province.

In Hawaii, at different points in his career, he was chairman of the Marianist Center of Hawaii, director of Marianist Hall Community in Honolulu, rector of Chaminade University, and special advisor to the president of Chaminade.

In 2000, the university presented Father Bolin with the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, “for his dedicated service to higher education, his exemplary modeling of Marianist ideals, and his service to the Diocese of Honolulu.”

“His whole life he was in positions of responsibility,” said Marianist Father David Schuyler. “He had a certain carriage and dignity. Everyone had a deep respect for him.”

Father Bolin grew up, the third of five children, in a three bedroom house in Queen’s Village, on Long Island. His father was an accountant and his mother managed the crowded Bolin home.

A scholarship to Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York, introduced him in 1939 to the Marianists, who he joined after graduation in 1943. He made his first vows in 1944 and perpetual vows in 1948.

After a few years as a high school teacher, he attended the Marianist seminary in Fribourg, Switzerland, where he was ordained on July 17, 1955.

On the occasion of his 50th anniversary of ordination in 2005, Father Bolin wrote, “the seed of my religious and priestly vocation was planted by my family, the Dominican Sisters who taught me in grade school, and the Marianist Brothers and priests who taught me in high school.

“Over the years, those who planted the seed have nurtured, supported and challenged me to live that vocation faithfully, joyfully and perseveringly,” he said. “For their support and God’s grace I am most grateful.”

Father Bolin was well-traveled, having visited Africa, Australia, Japan, Korea, the Holy Land, Egypt, and Cyprus among other places.

As provincial of the Province of the Pacific, he often visited Korea, a country of which he was very fond.

“Any time he’d come to Korea, he’d bring a whole suitcase full of gifts for the brothers, including Butterfinger candy bars for me,” said Marianist Brother Dennis Schmitz. “Then he’d fill up the empty suitcase with gifts from Korea for his family. He loved Korea, and the Korean brothers loved him.”

From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, Father Bolin was a member and, for two years, chairman of the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese of Honolulu, the bishop’s primary group of priest consultants.

In 1994, the newly appointed Bishop of Honolulu Francis X. DiLorenzo asked him to be vicar general. Not having a driver’s license, he commuted by bus to work every day for six years from Chaminade to his downtown chancery office.

As the second highest administrator in the diocese, he worked on numerous diocesan boards and commissions, advising the bishop and representing him on nearly every aspect of diocesan affairs.

It was a job the skilled Marianist administrator found greatly rewarding.

With a calm educator’s demeanor, Father Bolin brought a thoughtful gentility to chancery proceedings. He was always quick with a greeting, a smile, a suggestion, and an occasional joke. And every Christmas, he gave a gift to everyone who worked in the chancery.

Bishop DiLorenzo had high regard for Father Bolin’s contributions, describing him upon his retirement as a “wellspring of wisdom.”

“He has been a great support to me and the diocese,” the bishop said.

Father Schuyler described his fellow Marianist as “exceptionally gifted.”

“Because of his wisdom, prudence and pastoral sensitivities, bishops took his counsel very seriously,” he said. “He was able to look over the whole situation. He also was very approachable and had a lot of friends.”

After his retirement as vicar general, Father Bolin moved to northern California for a Marianist assignment. He soon returned to Chaminade for a few more years of service before retiring again in June 2005.

Chaminade celebrated Father Bolin’s life and ministry with a Mass on June 22 in the campus’ Mystical Rose Oratory. The university’s administration and campus ministry is planning a memorial after the new academic year starts.

His funeral was at the Marianist Center in Cupertino.