He was born in Derby, CT, on June 23, 1934, a son of Carl and Evelyn (Dolly) Marsic Boland.
He enlisted in the US Marine Corps five days after graduating from Fairfield College Prep. After boot camp, he was assigned to 40 weeks radar repairman training. The Korean armistice was signed the week before his graduation. With the help of the GI bill, he graduated from the University of Bridgeport in 1959, majoring in Industrial Relations and Marketing.
Upon graduation, he went on to fill various safety, personnel and contract administration positions in construction, defense and R&D organizations: Sperry Wheeler Electronics, Singer- Kearfott Systems, Avco-Lycoming, United Technologies Norden Div., Perkin Elmer Optical Technology, Westinghouse Prestress Div., Atlantic Wire, Cities Service New Haven Copper Div., OSHA, G-UB-MK Constructors.
Proud of his USMC service, he joined the American Legion. 2018 was his 51st membership year. While living in Illinois, he was the 1994-5 Commander of Edward M. Sesterhenn Post 166 in Glenview, IL. In 2005, along with Andy Paulhus and Dept. of Maine Master Recruiter Bob Morrill of Freeport, he was instrumental in restarting Harpswell’s John Leo Murray Jr. Post 171. Post 171 was initially chartered from 1946 to 1962. When the Post was rechartered in Sept. 2005, Dan had recruited over 50 members and earned the Gold Brigade award from the Dept. of Maine.
While Post 171 Adjutant, he earned national awards for the Post for five continuous years of highest membership, and five Honor Ribbons for early 100 percent annual membership, the “Early Bird.” He went on to become District 8 Commander and Area 3 Commander. In 2010, he and Bob Morrill helped start up Phippsburg AL Memorial Post 216.
Dan was a member of Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Dept. since 1997, and had served as a Basic EMT with OBI Rescue for 15 years when he retired. He served on several Harpswell town committees, was on the board of Harpswell Community Broadcasting for several years, and volunteered with the Harpswell Festival.
His parents and infant brother Carl predeceased him. Dan is survived by his wife Else Weber Boland of Harpswell, son Carl (Jennifer Clark) of Ivoryton CT, son Daniel of Contoocook NH, daughter Kathleen (Bruce Jacobsen), and his children’s mother Caroline Rzeszutek Boland, all of Guilford, CT. Also surviving are grandchildren Michael and Kevin Jacobsen and Garrett and Charlotte Rose Boland.
He is a University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine anatomical donor. His ashes will be interred at the Augusta Maine Veterans Cemetery at a later date. The details of the graveside service will be announced when available.
Memorial donations in Dan’s memory may be made to American Legion Post 171, PO Box 171, Harpswell, ME 04079. Better yet, join the Post! If you are already a member, recruit another member!
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less