Remembering John Boelter--a tribute.

John G. Boelter passed away suddenly of heart failure at St. Joseph's Medical Center, Stockton, CA, on April 28, 2006. Dr. Boelter was an associate professor at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, and an adapted physical education professional within the State of California from 1985 until his untimely death. Boelter began his career teaching, advising, and coaching public school students at Valencia High School, Placentia, CA, prior to his life's work on the university level. John studied at the University of California at Berkeley ('61-'62), received his AA degree in History from Pasadena City College ('64), his AB degree in Religion and Philosophy from the University of Southern California (USC) ('69), where he was to stay until he received his doctorate in August of 1974. It was during his studies at USC that he met and studied kinesiology under Gene Logan, who was also an early author of an adapted physical education text. Logan was the chair of Boelter's doctoral committee and advisor for his dissertation entitled, A Biplanar Cinematographic Biomechanic Analysis of Selected Movement Patterns of Trainable Mentally Retarded Children and Their Peer-Comparison Group. Understandably, much of his early research focused on the area of biomechanics.

After graduating from USC, John worked at Temple University ('74-'75), then moved to University of Texas--Permian Basin. While in Texas he worked closely with Rob Carlson, Lois Hale, and Patt Dodds and his students, as well as future PhD's, Renee Thiebaud and Kay Dwine. During this time, he was very involved with AAHPERD's Biomechanics Academy. In 1981, Boelter, re-located to the University of the Pacific (UOP) in Stockton, California. While at UOP, he was coordinator of the adapted physical education program. He was very involved with Special Olympics in San Joaquin County, hosting swimming, soccer, power-lifting events, and area fitness testing every year. Along with his teaching, service, and scholarship responsibilities at UOP, he coordinated the adapted physical conditioning Program at San Joaquin Delta College for over 21 years. This program ran year-round with 30-40 adults with disabilities participating three times a week. He was very involved with United Cerebral Palsy, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, as well as establishing and directing the St. Joseph's Fitness Center for St. Joseph's Medical Center. In a former student's opinion, Boelter's passion was with fellow adapted physical education professionals in his field. He was devoted to the National Conference on Physical Activity for Exceptional Individuals, participating in the conference and serving on the University Adapted Physical Education Credentialing Committee. His summer graduate adapted physical education courses helped teachers in California become certified adapted physical education professionals. Although Pacific's K-12 and adapted physical education certification program has since expired, his work and dedication to the adapted physical education field in California will not be forgotten. Many of his friends and colleagues knew John for his passion both for his profession and his students. UOP will remember Boelter for his teaching excellence--as the recipient of the Alex and Faye Spanos Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award in 1992 indicated. Boelter was known for his great love of family and as a devoted husband and father. John is survived by his wife, Kristen, daughter Megan, and son Mark. His children both lettered in basketball in high school, and Mark continued to play Division I basketball at UOP for four years. Megan received her undergraduate degree and completed graduate work at UOP in the biological sciences. Mark is now a physical education teacher in the Sacramento City schools. Megan received her law degree in May, 2005, from St. Louis University's School of Law, and received her Master's of Public Health as part of a joint degree on May 19, 2006.

Throughout his life, John pushed students to excel and be the best they could be. He was dedicated to his field, his students, and his family. Adapted physical activity has lost a true friend and kindred spirit, PALAESTRA has lost a dedicated editor, and this editor has lost a close friend.

Louisa (Summers) DeBolt and David Beaver