Obituaries
Peter Boles – Remarkable Individual Passes
A reflection by Patrick Jamieson
Volume 28 Issue 7, 8 & 9 | Posted: September 19, 2014
Peter Boles was an extraordinary person in my experience. Like Mr. Blue, according to author Myles Connolly (see article pp 14-15) he set a poor example for other corporate executive types by giving up that path to perdition to enjoy the radical sense of freedom of following the Gospel way.
That considered decision fifty years ago made all the difference in rendering Peter into the person he became and in the process inspired many of us more ‘accountant’ types. Due to my often serious demeanor, Peter labelled me ‘the accountant’.
Peter Boles was an extraordinary person in my experience. Like Mr. Blue, according to author Myles Connolly (see article pp 14-15) he set a poor example for other corporate executive types by giving up that path to perdition to enjoy the radical sense of freedom of following the Gospel way.
That considered decision fifty years ago made all the difference in rendering Peter into the person he became and in the process inspired many of us more ‘accountant’ types. Due to my often serious demeanor, Peter labelled me ‘the accountant’.
At ICN we remember Peter from his years of sitting around our table at meetings, his humour and wisdom and his anticipated trait of waiting to have the last say at the end of the meeting where he summed up and validated and launched us off with his implicit and desired blessing, all without the least pretension. Peter Boles, mentor, inspirational friend, Rest in Peace.
BOLES, Peter J. December 17, 1934 – May 24, 2014
Our beloved father, grandfather, and friend, Peter John Boles, died peacefully, surrounded by family and close friends at Mount St. Mary Hospital on Saturday, May 24th at 1:15 a.m. Peter is survived by his younger sister, Carol Anne, his former wife, Sandy, his children Deborah (Hal), Michael, Catherine, Aaron, his grandchildren, Nathaniel (Rebecca), Lyndsy (Josh), Olivia (Haileab), Caytlyn (Karl), Luke (Ali), Silas, David and his great-grandchildren Violet, Elijah, and Penelope. He is also survived by 19 nieces and nephews (and their families). Peter was born on December 17, 1934 in Toronto, Ontario and married Patricia in May 1955. They had 3 children, Deborah, Michael and Catherine. The couple separated in 1967 and during a time when single fatherhood was rare, Peter raised his three children on his own until 1972 when he married Sandy and became father to her son, Aaron. In 1978, Peter left an established career in sales to move to Victoria, BC, where he (and his family) became an integral part of an intentional community based on the ideals of social justice. Some of Peter’s volunteer involvements included: being a founding member of Mitraniketan Housing Cooperative; Development and Peace; 10 days for World Development; solidarity work in Central America; retreat and spiritual direction at Glenairley, Sorrento, Queenswood, Naramata and Rivendell retreat centres, participation in Cancer Walks with his daughter Catherine; and before his dementia stopped him, he was a passionate team member of the Victoria Ramblers and Raiders – both award winning senior’s baseball teams. We would like to thank the wonderful staff at Mount St. Mary’s for enjoying and caring for Peter, who (up until two weeks before he passed) justifiably and righteously called himself “fiercely independent!” Peter was a great listener, a faithful, ethical, organized generous man who shared a tremendous sense of humour with all of us. He loved God, people, baseball, spiritual direction, theatre, movies, solitude, sports, reading, retreat life, dessert and cooking great food for people! One month before he died, we sat for coffee in the echoey atrium at the Parkside Hotel and Peter let tears flow while he declared “I LOVE MY LIFE!” A Celebration of Peter’s Life was held at Glenairley (his much-cherished retreat formerly owned by the Sisters of Saint Ann, now a training centre for the Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue): 6040 East Sooke Road, on Saturday, June 21st. Peter loved ‘potlucks’ so a potluck feast was held in his honour.
A reflection by Patrick Jamieson