Dan Di Rocco:
Dave Bolton, long-time production and layout manager for The Interim newspaper, died July 27, stricken by cancer. He was 72.
For two decades, from 2000 to 2020, Dave contributed to the monthly publishing of our paper, laying out the articles, ads, and other components of the publication. Often it was a pressure cooker of a job, weeks of slow toil, then building to a crescendo as press week approached.
Dave was able to swim with the current and meet the deadlines even when it required extra effort in time and energy. He was always ready and willing to do what was necessary to get the paper to press in time despite last-minute edits of stories and placement of advertisements. The changes often called for creativity on his part in collaboration with the editor and the advertising department.
Among other responsibilities that Dave fulfilled were those of creating and doing the layout for tracts, pamphlets, newsletters, marketing brochures for fundraising drives, and programs and posters for special events (including Rose Dinners and March for Life). Dave had closest connection with the paper’s editor, Paul Tuns, giving and receiving advice regarding each month’s edition. Timing of submissions of articles presented many challenges, yet the deadlines (key to successful publishing) were always met, thanks to Dave’s hard work and flexibility. Excellent quality editions of the paper appeared during those years.
But Dave contributed in other ways in addition to pro-life newspaper publishing. For all those years he also played an important role in producing promotional material (both print and digital) for the Father Ted Colleton Scholarship program (an essay writing contest for senior high school students), as well as formatting the educational supplements known as The Interim Plus that were sent out six times per year to several hundred teachers across the high schools of Canada.
Dave was also the person responsible for the layout of books published through the auspices of The Interim Publishing Company.
He demonstrated careful attention to detail, accuracy, and following directions and offering flexible solutions to problems that arose and required modifications, as is often the case in the publishing field.
Dave was a Christian believer and follower of Christ, not in an ostentatious manner, but in his own serious and quiet fashion. He had interesting tastes in music and reading selections, a hearty sense of humour and was warmly personable in his social interactions.
Dave is remembered fondly for his professionalism and commitment to pro-life communications by those who worked alongside him during those two memorable decades. He is survived by his wife, Joanne, and sons Ian, James, Michael, Andrew, and Colin.
