Eugene Albert Bolt Jr.

Eugene Albert Bolt, Jr.

December 2, 1963 - September 12, 2024

Eugene Albert Bolt, Jr., 60, of Philadelphia, PA, died of natural causes on September 12, 2024. A dedicated and exuberant presence across an array of literary, historical, and community institutions, Eugene will be dearly missed.

From childhood, Eugene was curious, fun-loving, and engaged. He graduated in 1982 from Pittsburgh's Fox Chapel High School, where he joined the National Honor Society, swam backstroke on the swim team, performed in school musicals and played the trombone. Over the years, Eugene earned three degrees at the University of Pennsylvania: a bachelor's in urban planning (1986), a master's in city planning (1994), and a second master's in government administration (2001).

As an undergraduate at Penn, Eugene rowed crew and assumed an active role in the Philomathean Society, one of the United States' oldest literary societies. Eugene's own contributions as a writer spanned his lifetime. In 1988, Spy Magazine observed that, "judging by his [pre-electronic mail] correspondence, [Mr. Bolt] owns or has access to not just felt-tip pens and a typewriter, but also crayons and colored pencils and rubber stamps." In 1990, Eugene wrote the successful application for National Historic Landmark status granted to the Wagner Free Institute of Science in North Philadelphia, where he served as curator for several years.

In 2006, Eugene co-authored a book about his next employer, Philadelphia's University of the Arts, part of Arcadia Publishing's Campus History Series. More recently, as a dedicated historian, he advanced efforts by the Society of the War of 1812 in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to gather, preserve, and share information pertaining to the memorials and graves of Pennsylvania's under-sung 1812 veterans.

Eugene's passions and pursuits were indeed joyously eclectic. He was a longtime member of Skycastle French Hounds - the only pack in the U.S. composed of French roughcoated bassets - and, at his death, was the Master of the Basset Hounds. He performed and served as a Board member (and 2008-09 Board President) of the Savoy Company, the world's oldest amateur theater company dedicated solely to the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. Eugene was also a devoted member of Philadelphia's Holy Communion Lutheran Church and serving at the time of his death as Secretary to the church's Lay Council.

Eugene leaves behind an abundant community of friends. "Gene was always someone to lift the spirits of those around him [and] find the good and light in any situation," one friend made at the Savoy Company recalls. Another friend of 15 years recounts that Eugene "introduced me to so much about history, art and culture but most importantly he taught me by example that life is short and there is not a moment to waste. He was the personification of living life to its fullest and I truly admired him for that."

A third friend captures the extraordinary dynamism of Eugene's companionship: "Because of Gene I have gotten to drink champagne on the porch of the University Barge Club on Boathouse Row; participate in the epic Savoy rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody in the main hall of University of the Arts; watch basset hounds hunt and then [have] tea after in a gorgeous home; ... [and] roll my eyes at every new member who rubs the nose of the Savoy face at Longwood, because he told them it was tradition. He left pies on my porch randomly, or I'd see him at a Board meeting, and he would tell me he had a pie for me .... Gene, your spirit and creativity and even your long emails will be missed by so many people. You were the very best Pirate cook that ever set foot on the stage."

Born on December 2, 1963, in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene was the beloved son of Nancy Jane (Double) Bolt and the late Eugene Albert Bolt, Sr. He was also the cherished older brother of Jill Bolt Valois (John Valois) of Olney, Maryland, and uncle to Benjamin Bolt Valois and Nicholas Bolt Valois.

A memorial service will be held on October 26th at the Holy Communion Lutheran Church (time to be determined). In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his name to Holy Communion Lutheran Church, 2111 Samson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.