Joel Bolkovatz
Joel Bolkovatz retires after 51 years with Gary schools
Contributed By: Gary Community School Corp.
Will come back if they need him
Electrician Joel Bolkovatz is putting away his electronics testers after 51 years working for the Gary Community School Corporation.
Joel started working for Gary Community Schools in the early 1950’s when, as a high school student, he cut grass during the summers and scraped floor tile during Christmas vacations. His father was a carpenter foreman and got him his job.
Joel started an apprenticeship in August of 1968. At that time there were about 6 full time electricians and 4 to 5 contracted electricians during summer months.
Electricians did everything including setting poles and pouring concrete in addition to electrical repairs and electronics. He worked for Columbia Electric and Meade Electric early in his career. Bolkovatz was drafted into the Army and served at Fort Knox in Kentucky and in Germany. He served for 2 years and was trained in repairing communications radios.
He continued repairing 2-way radios for contractors and worked on the Indiana toll road repairing radios for police, tow trucks, and toll road vehicles. He also worked on generators and microwave towers.
He married in 1963 and raised three children, 2 daughters and one son. His daughter JoEllen is married and living in Virginia and she has 2 children. Daughter Jill Ann lives in Highland and has 2 children. His son Matthew lives in Colorado with his wife and 3 children.
What does he intend to do for the next phase of his life?
He says he loves to travel and his children in Virginia and Colorado want him to visit. Joel loves to drive, and he humorously states he would only stay one week because he doesn’t want to overstay his welcome.
He particularly remembers one trip to Colorado when his son needed some remodeling done.
His wife could not accompany him; so he drove west on I-80 listening to CD’s, singing his heart out, enjoying the drive, and seeing the scenery. In addition to visiting with family, he said he would love to visit Germany again, and now has plenty of time to catch up with work on his rental properties.
In addition to his ambitious retirement agenda, he has agreed to come back to work for Gary on a contracted, as needed basis to work on programming bell schedules, clocks, and anything electronic.
We, in the Buildings and Grounds Department of the Gary Community School District, wish Joel the very best in his retirement and look forward to seeing him again very soon. It’s time to get in that car, head west on I-80, pop in those favorite CD’s, and sing as loud and hard as he wants!
Story Posted:06/23/2019
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