Mr. Herbert M. Boldt

Boldt, Herbert M. Age 84, of Livonia and East Tawas Michigan died Tuesday November 22, 2011 in Taylor Michigan after a long battle with Alzheimer's. Herb was born to the late Herbert G and Margaret G Boldt on June 7, 1927 in Cleveland, Ohio. His family moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1936. Herb graduated from St. Mary's of Redford in Detroit in June 1945 and upon graduation was drafted into the Marine Corps and served in China from 1945 to 1947. When honorably discharged, Herb attended the University of Detroit and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. He worked at the Detroit News from 1949 to 1987. The first 20 years at the Detroit News he was primarily a police reporter and he covered the Detroit riots of 1967 and other important stories. After leaving the police beat, Herb was an Editor on the City desk, started the Metro Section, and was the Executive Sports Editor. After retiring from the Detroit News, Herb wrote a weekly outdoor column for the Associated Press, wrote articles for the Michigan Catholic, and wrote a monthly column for Woods and Water news entitled "Fast Eddie and the Gang". Herb also published a book which was a collection of the Fast Eddie and the Gang columns. Herb loved athletics and the outdoors. He won 10 varsity letters while at St. Mary's, boxed in the Marine Corps, and had a full paid scholarship for kicking/punting at the University of Michigan until a concussion in 1944 forced him to give up football. He was offered a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs after leaving the Marine Corps. While attending college at the University of Detroit, he played varsity baseball for legendary baseball coach Lloyd Brazil. Herb loved hunting and fishing and spent most of his free time in retirement pursuing those passions. Herb is survived by his spouse of 62 years, Mary T Boldt (FitzGerald) and his sister Evelyn (Joseph) Sullivan of Traverse City. Herb had 8 children Michael (Peg); John (Peg); Ellen (Ron) Wilder(deceased); Suzanne (Rob) Zavicar; James; Laura (Pete) Huben, Nancy (Joe) Bagazynski; and Julia (Cason) Swindle. He also had 14 grandchildren: Timothy (deceased), Matthew, Ashley, Chrissie, Kimberly, Nicole; Ryan, Brianna, Leesha, Monica, Paul, Joe, Mark, and Emma; one great-grandchild (Abigail); and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to either The Alzheimer's Association or to Arbor Hospice.