The Passing of a Louisville Food Legand

I saw this and thought it was worthy of posting in the forum:

BOLAND, WILLIAM O'BRIEN, consummate gentleman and exemplar of "the Aloha spirit," passed away Saturday, March 22, 2014 after a wonderful 96 years of life.

Bill was born October 25, 1917 to John and Margaret Boland of Louisville. He graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1933 (at the age of 15) and the University of Louisville. After serving three years as manager of Audubon Country Club, he spent three years in the Navy in World War II. After the war, he was manager of Kunz's Restaurant in downtown Louisville before starting Bill Boland's Dining Room in 1949. He retired from the restaurant business in 1982, after serving hundreds of thousands of candlelit meals on white tablecloths and making thousands of friends through his personal warmth and kindness as the most gracious host in Louisville.

Bill and his wife, Margaret, developed a love for Maui and spent much time there enjoying a second home where he became known as "the Mayor of Puamana." In both Maui and Louisville - and across the many parts of the world where he and his wife and family travelled - he regularly enjoyed the tennis courts, golf courses and, of course, casinos. He also had a life-long love of horses - both riding them and betting on them - and he shared both passions with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Wherever he resided, vacationed or frequented for business or hobbies, Bill was a source of warmth, humor, and informed conversation. Through the very last weeks of his life, he could quote stock prices, argue politics and discuss the latest biography he'd read. He had a long and blessed life - filled with memories he created with his friends and family.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret and five siblings, brothers, John, Joseph and Louis; and sisters, Margaret Mary and Mary Catherine.

He is survived by his two children, William, Jr. (Barbara) of Towson, MD and Patricia (Foster) Haunz of Louisville; five grandchildren, Shane Boland of Phoenix, MD, Carla Haunz Rusconi of Cincinnati, OH, Marc Haunz of Dawsonville, GA, Bart Boland of Towson, MD and Leah Haunz Johnson of Louisville; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to acknowledge the compassionate care team from Twinbrook and Hosparus of Louisville.

His funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at St. Raphael Church, 2141 Lancashire Avenue, with burial following in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 3-7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at Ratterman Funeral Home, 3711 Lexington Road in St. Mathews.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to Sacred Hearts School, 239 Dickenson Street, Lahaina, Maui 96761.

Aloha Bill.

Bill was a great guy. It was the first restaurant that I remember going to as a youngster at Bowman Field and continued to go when he moved to Bardstown Rd until he sold it. He was a friend of my dad .. same age, but dad is still alive and kicking. Both in the service in WW2

Steve, we did my H/S grad dinner at Boland's. Loved it very much, and was the first place that had liver pate that I loved and enjoyed.....plus my Grandmother loved the place as well.

So glad to have had the pleasure of his company on this earth.

Forgot that it was at bowman field. Grew up on Dartmouth. Anyone remember vonallmens dairy store and joe fowlers liquor store. Mrs wheelers dry goods. A butcher shop and a great little gas station . Great memories.