Memorial: Thomas E. Bolton

Journal of Paleontology, Jul 1998 by Nowlan, Godfrey S, Dougherty, B Jean, McCracken, A D

Thomas Elwood Bolton, eminent paleontologist, biostratigrapher, and Past President of The Paleontological Society, passed away in Ottawa on November 21st, 1997 at the age of 73. He is survived by his wife Beverley, daughter Catherine, son-in-law Michael, granddaughters Jennifer and Emily, and a sister, Patricia.

Tom was born and raised in Kirkland Lake, part of the mining area of northern Ontario. He began his undergraduate studies in geology at the University of Toronto in 1941 but interrupted them to join the Canadian army in July of 1943. As a Gunner with the 12th Field Regiment at the Normandy landings, he sustained injuries and returned home for convalescence. He went back to the University of Toronto to complete his BA (Geology) in 1947. During his undergraduate studies and his summer work with the Ontario Department of Mines he developed a life-long passion for paleontology. This interest led him to enroll in a Masters and eventually a Ph.D. program at the University of Toronto under the guidance of Professor Madeleine Fritz. His life-long career with the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) began in 1952. He remained active in his paleontology pursuits well into retirement and until his death was an Emeritus Scientist with the GSC.

The foundation of Tom's 45 year career with the GSC was built on his Ph.D. work in the Silurian rocks of the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario. GSC Memoir 289, "Silurian Stratigraphy and Palaeontology of the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario," published in 1957, is a definitive work and is still referenced by all geologists working in the area. Over his career he expanded his knowledge to include Ordovician and Silurian rocks from across Canada, especially the classic sections on Anticosti Island and elsewhere in eastern Canada. His research covered a remarkable diversity of organisms, including trilobites, eurypterids, corals, brachiopods, crinoids, cystoids, bryozoans, sponges, nautiloids, gastropods, and pelecypods. He published over 80 papers in his career and was working on at least five additional papers at the time of his death. Not only was Tom an acknowledged authority in his field, his career was characterized by distinguished and sustained service to the discipline, and he provided vital leadership to those entering the field. As Curator of the Canadian National Collection of Type Invertebrate and Plant Fossils, Tom provided unstinting service for over 30 years, leaving a legacy of eight volumes of the Catalogue of Type Fossil Invertebrates and one Catalogue of Type Plant Fossils. In addition he maintained the current list of Paleontological Reports of the Geological Survey of Canada and the lexicon of Canadian stratigraphic names. His long, distinguished career in paleontology was acknowledged by his receipt of the Billings Medal of the Paleontology Division of the Geological Association of Canada (GAC) in September of 1997.

The hallmarks of Tom's work were cheerful involvement, modesty, effectiveness, and a willingness to involve others. His style was characterized by common sense, generosity, a sharp wit, and a personal humility that was never meek. He used these qualities as the 1990-91 President of the Paleontological Society. He was an active member in many other societies over the years and served as Councillor for the Geological Association of Canada (1966-1968). He also served as a Corresponding Member the IUGS Subcommission on Silurian Stratigraphy, until his retirement. His enthusiasm for paleontology was contagious, and he delighted in talking to those who shared his passion whether they were "professional" paleontologists or not. If you liked fossils, Tom would share his knowledge with you. His happy, enthusiastic presence will be missed by all who knew him and had the pleasure and honor to work with him.

Godfrey S. Nowlan, B. Jean Dougherty and A.D. (Sandy) McCracken