IN MEMORIAM: Carol V. Bollinger, 76;

Loved Working In SUNY Dining Halls

ONEONTA – Carol V. Bollinger, 76, of Oneonta, who worked at her dream job – in SUNY Oneonta’s food service – for four decades – passed away peacefully in her home after a brief illness, surrounded by family on the evening of June 5, 2019.

Carol was born in Flushing on July 22, 1942, and grew up in Wantagh, where she became the second woman ever to be crowned Miss Wantagh in 1957.

Carol moved to Oneonta with her husband, Charlie, and two children in 1969 when Charlie got a job at the Oneonta Post Office. Carol and Charlie were married for just short of 55 years before Charlie passed away on Jan. 24 of this year.

After moving to Oneonta, Carol worked for the Oneonta City School District for a short time before starting her beloved career in food service at SUNY Oneonta, where she worked for more than 40 years. Carol was passionate about her job and built many lasting relationships with friends who became family during her time there and was named an honorary alumna by the SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association in 2017.

She was widely known among campus students as a source of love, support and light throughout the years. Carol also acted as the union steward for the food service labor union for several years and built a reputation as a trusted and loyal advocate for her fellow employees.

In addition to her career at SUNY Oneonta, Carol devoted much of her life to political advocacy. She was a member of the Otsego County Women’s Republican Club and the City of Oneonta Republican Committee for many years, carrying on a long family tradition of political involvement.

Though she thoroughly enjoyed everything she did throughout her life, Carol’s most cherished role was that of  “Nana” to her five grandchildren. Carol will be missed by her daughter, Susan Kurkowski and her husband, Kevin, of Oneonta; her son, John Bollinger and his wife, Lia, of Williamsburg, Va.; her grandchildren Kaitlyn O’Connor of Richmond, Va., Kyle and Kevin Kurkowski of Oneonta and Caroline and Abigail Bollinger of Williamsburg, Va.; her sister Susan Cannizzaro and her husband, Joe, of Voorhees Township, N.J.; her sister-in-law Midge Finck and her husband, Eddie, of Levittown. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews, and friends.

The family would like to express their deep appreciation and thanks to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, especially Soraya, Amy, Ellen, Stacey and Kelly for their loving care of Carol and her family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to honor Carol make donations to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 297 River Street Service Road, Oneonta, New York 13820, in Memory of Carol V. Bollinger.

For those who wish to celebrate Carol’s life, the family will hold calling hours from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12th at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, 14 Grand Street in Oneonta. The family will hold a short service at 7 p.m. following the calling hours for those who wish to stay.
Online condolences to the family can be made at www.grummonsfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.